Afront porch is designed to be a welcoming place to gather, visit, and connect, and The Front Porch, which recently opened on Walnut Grove, is exactly this - an inviting place of respite and connection. Envisioned as a place to connect with old friends and create new relationships, Memphians are invited to come, catch their breath, rejuvenate with a great cup of coffee from the Cafe, then be ready to forge ahead with fresh ideas.
The Front Porch (TFP) is situated on the campus of Second Baptist Church, and it was founded thanks to the popularity of their annual Pumpkin Patch. Each year, the front lawn of the church is filled with an assortment of pumpkins and gourds, and it draws thousands of dedicated pumpkin-buyers. But for most of the year, the undeveloped acreage on their church campus is idle. This is when leaders realized an opportunity to build a year-round space that is open and welcoming for all Memphians, not just during church services or to buy fall decor.
“The Front Porch is designed as a place for people to gather in the heart of Memphis,” said Melissa Todd, Executive Director of the facility. On a recent tour, with the hustle and bustle of construction equipment and workers completing the final touches before the grand opening on November 8, Melissa shared the vision for TFP as a place to bring hospitality and community with a cafe, event and office spaces, and a large, welcoming front porch, complete with rocking chairs.
The core community space in TFP is Second Helpings Cafe, serving coffee, breakfast, lunch, and other light bites. It is formed in partnership with Sweet LaLa’s (so you know the desserts will be fantastic!), and it is currently open Tuesday - Saturday, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. “Second Helpings Cafe will be the center of connecting food and community at The Front Porch,” explains Lauren Young, owner of Sweet LaLa’s and Second Helpings. “We believe in being good neighbors and finding ways to share in living life more presently with one another. With the vision of The Front Porch to help each of us find meaningful ways to rest, renew and restore our hearts, minds and spirits, we know our space will be perfect for fueling great conversations.”
Rentable event spaces are a component of the TFP complex. The larger of the event spaces can hold up to 100 people, and the smaller, more intimate space has a capacity of 12 people. Think workshops, board meetings, luncheons, wedding receptions, mahjong parties - you name it. The spaces offer the latest in whiteboard and supportive technologies, complimentary coffee and tea (this is an alcohol-free venue), and in-house catering from the Cafe. Another part of the facility is Milla’s House, part of Baptist Hospital Kemmons Wilson Family Center for Good Grief. It has relocated the headquarters to the complex, and has a specially-designed, dedicated wing in the rear of the building. Four private office suites round out the interior space.
The outdoor space is an integral part of TFP with the large front porch and rocking chairs - perfect for whiling away an afternoon, sipping a tea, and visiting with a friend. The Outdoor Grove encompasses the front lawn, where this vision was first sprouted in the Pumpkin Patch, and will be utilized as part of the facility for gathering community. The Grove is also available to rent for parties, weddings, and more.
Becky Wilson, Board Chair for the organization, explains what guests can expect. “‘Gather for good’ is our motto for The Front Porch. With a free event the second Thursday of each month we will showcase organizations and individuals who are already doing good in Memphis. There will be three series: music, speakers, and entertainment. These provide a reason to slow down, take a breath and reconnect with others.”
In the Bible, a porch was a symbolic place for community, and at the heart of The Front Porch is love of community for the good of Memphis.
For more information, visit thefrontporchmemphis.org