The Nook brings bibliophile-approved lattes to downtown Kansas City Public Library

Kansas City Public Library Central Location // Photo Courtesy The Kansas City Public Library

In an exciting collaboration between The Prospect KC culinary students, the Kansas City Public Library, and Messenger Coffee Co., The Nook will open its doors for the first time on August 7, inside the Central Library downtown. 

The coffee shop will be serving delicious, literary, and KC-inspired drinks and foods prepared by culinary students from Prospect KC. The food preparation program exists to garner a sense of community and combat poverty with hands-on learning experiences. 

The Prospect KC’s Founder Shanita McAfee-Bryant began the program in 2019 to serve the historically underserved East Side of KC. Food accessibility and nutritional education continue to be scarce for many people in Kansas City, due to historically racist systems that continue to harm communities. The award-winning chef and restauranteur created the program to empower others through food and the restaurant industry.

The Prospect KC offers food assistance, housing, childcare, and many other services to help support those in need. Their other culinary programs touch on a wide array of various aspects of nutritional education, such as Real Food for Real People or Making a Chef.

Shanita McAffe-Bryant // Photo Courtesy of Photo by Phon Wills

“We are so excited to add The Nook collaboration. It’s our second live training space for students participating in The Prospect KC’s 16-week culinary training program. The Library provides the perfect environment for our students to practice their skills by preparing an array of menu items,” McAfee-Bryant says. 

The menu contains the names many local legends or story tributes like Octavia’s Cosmic Caramel Mocha, “Octavia” being the iconic sci-fi author. Or the Langston’s Brown Sugar Oat Groove, whose namesake is Missouri native Langston Hughes—a Harlem Renaissance poet and musician. With the Kansas City-approved coffee from Messenger, The Nook’s opening will keep the library patrons happily caffeinated. 

“Everyone is looking forward to having coffee in the Library again,” Director of Central Library Operations Teresa Bolton says. “Once you have a horchata perfectly crafted by The Prospect KC staff, you’ll understand how tasty this partnership is!” 

Go-to breakfast foods like pastries, burritos, bagels, and muffins will be served by the culinary team for a lovely morning at the library. Their lunch menu offers creative and healthy meals, including Angelou’s Caged Bird—a chicken salad sandwich served on a croissant. 

For those hoping to visit the new and improved library coffee shop,  The Nook’s grand opening is on August 7 at 14 West 10th Street in downtown Kansas City.