The Nest is more than just a coffee house in Uptown Port Townsend. It’s a safe, fun, inspiring and helpful place for youth, for tweens, teens, and young adults under 25. 

About to mark one year in operation, the Nest has served and supported a community in need with space, connection, employment opportunities, acceptance, and guidance. 

Different from the Rec Center, another hangout space only a couple blocks away, the Nest aims to wrap around youth holistically with the population's major obstacles in mind. Mental health and housing are at the top of the list. 

The Nest also fills the void from closure of the Broiler Room downtown, and sets itself apart by providing oversight and boundaries and a space not just for the ones on the fringe.

 “In parenting, healthy boundaries are essential. It’s the youths' job to challenge them, but if they are never there, it’s chaos,” explains Zhaleh Almaee, the Nest’s program director. 

The place is also the only non-profit coffee shop in town, with 100 percent of the proceeds used for youth programming and support. And although it is centered around young people, all ages are welcomed. 

Adults can support the non-profit with sustaining donations and by using the space to write, work, and meet, like a regular coffee shop, especially during school hours, when youth traffic is slower.

The goal is helping youth with opportunities for life skills. 

But above all, the Nest is a place for fun. A beautiful space to hang out, play games, instruments, chill out with friends after school, and showcase art. There are games, an xbox, ping pong and pool tables, art supplies, computers to do homework, and more. 

In the monthly program, there are open mics, writers’ workshops, spoken-word open mics, "ask Abby” college support service, Dungeon & Dragons playing and more. Events are sober and drug free and often have support tables . 

Last Friday, during Punk Nite, an event organized by a 14-year-old with support from staff and the health department was distributing and teaching the public how to use Naloxone, a medication that can help those who are overdosing on opioids in prescription medications, heroin, and fentanyl. 

Baristas are coffee companions, peer allies crossed trained in advocacy and empathy. 

The coffee shop is part of the non-profit Owl 360, founded and directed by Kelli Parcher, and steward of the Pfeiffer House, the historic building on Lawrence and Taylor St., providing affordable housing for young adults 18-25 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or fleeing an unsafe environment.

Many are aging out of foster care. 

Living in single-occupancy apartments, the residents are on a two-year rotation and are supported by a residency advocate, just like in a college dorm. It’s a first step to independent and sustainable living. 

At the coffee shop, outreach advocates help young people to explore opportunities via resources, community connections, outreach, events, and simply interacting and building connections and social capital.

Three private rooms are available for rent for meetings and gatherings for people of all ages for $10 to $20 an hour.