Bushwick
Stone Soup

What We’re Building

A member-funded social club. A place to drop in for coffee, share a meal, dance, and connect.

Why We're Building This

We want a place where it’s easy to run into friends and just as easy to make new ones.Sociologists call this a third place. It is neither home nor work, but something essential in between. A place where you can show up as yourself, relax in public, recognize familiar faces, and form new connections.A true third place is open and welcoming. It does not require an invitation. It is nearby, easy to enter, and unpretentious. There is a host, a core of regulars, and most importantly, conversation that is playful, curious, and real.That is what we are building. A shared space that feels like home.

Roots & Inspirations

We have created spaces like this before. They were intimate, lively, sometimes wild, and often unforgettable. Some lasted for years. Others were shorter lived.
Many ended because of weak business models, burnout, or unclear power structures.Those experiences clarified what matters. This time, we are building for longevity with stronger foundations, clearer governance, and a model designed to last.

The Space

The front of the space is filled with natural light, with generous seating and large windows that open it to the street.Inside, a café offers a rotating selection of local, organic food. Soups, salads, and simple, nourishing meals. The interior is warm and textured with wood surfaces, plants, comfortable seating, and a high fidelity sound system. Bookshelves line the walls.A flexible floor and small stage host music, movement, and gatherings.
Out back, a spacious yard provides room to gather around a fire, sit, and linger.

Membership Model

The space is supported by 400 members.Monthly dues cover rent, staffing, and programming. This allows the club to operate independently of alcohol sales, overpriced events, or constant fundraising.
Members receive access to the space, invitations to events, and a voice in how the community evolves. Some contribute by hosting or organizing. Others simply show up. Both matter.Membership is by application to ensure alignment with shared values. It may be paused or revoked when necessary to protect the health of the community.

Ownership and Governance

We are structuring this as a member-owned LLC. It balances shared ownership with effective leadership.Members elect a board to steward the mission and guide long term direction. A small leadership team handles day to day operations and programming.This model allows for flexibility, accountability, and transparency. Over time, the goal is to purchase the building and support the creation of similar member-led spaces elsewhere.Each member has a real stake in the project and in its future.

Culture and Politics

We have seen how quickly political identities can divide people.Rather than align with any single ideology, we are grounding this space in something more durable. Integrity, presence, and mutual respect.This is a place where people can disagree without hostility, speak honestly without fear, and learn from one another through real, face to face interaction.Respect is not enforced through dogma. It is expected in how we show up.

Founding Circle

We are beginning with a small group of people who already understand the value of this kind of space. Friends, artists, organizers, and community builders.If this resonates, we would love you in the founding circle.Help shape what comes next.[email protected]