Connecting Over Food

Passionate about bringing people together and fostering personal growth for all individuals, two local residents offer a delightful and delicious place to gather and grow in Downtown Summerville

by Jana Riley

The charming restaurant, located on a historic property in downtown Summerville.

When David Coss and Kathy Schuler decided to move to South Carolina to follow an exciting new career opportunity for David, they weren’t quite sure what to expect. Having most recently lived in Richmond, Virginia, the married couple sought to find a place to call home, where they could become positive changemakers for their neighbors, and where they could truly be a part of their community. Luckily for Summerville, they chose to start their new lives as Lowcountry residents right in the heart of the “Flowertown in the Pines,” and their beautiful impact on their neighbors has only just begun.

David and Kathy spent months looking for the right place to live, but finally, they found it: a piece of land in the middle of Historic Summerville, tucked away down an unassuming lane, complete with private pond. The neglected house on the property was far from a deal breaker; Kathy and David were adept at handling any challenges thrown their way. Instead, the two visionaries saw what the land could become: their place of shelter and comfort, of course, but also a place where they could embrace their mutual passion for often overlooked individuals. Their dream, to create a homestead where people with special needs could visit, learn, and grow, could become a reality on the property, they just knew it. They purchased the land and set to work.

Back in Richmond, Kathy worked as the Program Director for a nonprofit for people with special needs called the Positive Vibe Foundation, and also worked in the floral design world. David was a college professor in Virginia, a job he continues at the College of Charleston, and previously held a number of resort and restaurant management positions and worked for some of the top accounting firms in the country. Both are well-educated; David is a PHD, while Kathy holds a Masters Degree in Education. The two of them together could not make a better pair to begin a community-focused venture with intentions of using their platform to reach and educate people with special and unique needs. As they repaired and renovated their new home in Summerville, they discussed the different avenues toward reaching those with whom they wanted to connect. At the same time, they began to feel isolated in their new town, spending much of their time either home working or at the hardware store. Before long, they began to toy with the idea of opening up a restaurant, noting that the venture could not only introduce themselves to their neighbors in a productive way, but also open doors for opportunities to volunteer their skills and services to those who needed them. When they saw that the adorable building at 106 East Doty Avenue in Downtown Summerville was up for lease, they decided to commit, and phase one of their project began.

Half-and-half combinations allow guests to try a multitude of menu options.

David and Kathy on the porch of their passion project.

The pair toiled for months at the building, nearly taking it down to the studs. They scraped all of the popcorn ceilings, painted every wall (except for the wood in the bathroom, which David said has too much character to cover), and redid flooring and molding throughout. When they were finished, they had a three-story destination they called “The Little Cottage Community Cafe,” complete with restaurant and seating on the first floor, additional seating and event space on the second, and a lovely little attic space with a cozy free library and round gathering table. Kathy and David furnished the place with only reused and repurposed items from Goodwill, Craigslist, Habitat for Humanity, and other local thrift stores, lending a comforting, lived-in element to the brand-new interior. Then, they consulted with Chef Michael Carmel to create a menu that would surpass the expectations of diners, hoping to establish themselves as not just a place to eat in Summerville, but a place to eat well. After 11 months of labor, they finally opened the doors to their cafe in November of 2017.

Eschewing advertising campaigns for good-old-fashioned word of mouth referrals, David and Kathy didn’t expect much when it came to their fledgling days as the new restaurant in town. But, Lowcountry residents have a way of supporting small business owners, and more quickly than they expected, word got around town about the place. Soon, they were serving up Brunswick stew, cranberry walnut chicken salad, a wide range of paninis, and more to diners, who often became regular customers after just one visit. With nearly every element of the menu made in-house, including dressings, soups, and their soon-tobe-famous pimiento cheese, the delicious food made an impression on all who walked through the doors. Local clubs, baby showers, and bridal showers began gathering in the various spaces available in the cottage, enjoying the refreshing cuisine and beautiful atmosphere while spending time with loved ones. In short, the cafe was embraced by Summerville, exactly how the couple hoped it would be.

At first glance, The Little Cottage Community Cafe may seem like simply a place to grab a bite to eat, but behind the scenes, it is so much more. The word “community” in the name is a reflection of the mission behind the restaurant, a mission that permeates nearly every aspect of its existence. Shortly after they opened, Kathy began volunteering at a nearby group home, intent on helping youth to grow into their best selves. Utilizing her background working with people who had what she calls “additional needs,” Kathy created a program that enables the young men and women to learn entrepreneurial, social, and life skills through work with the cafe. Over the summer, she tested the program, bringing tools and ingredients over to the group home, teaching the residents how to make exclusive menu items, and setting up a fund within the restaurant where the proceeds of their sold menu items could be directed. Later, the young people would choose what to do with their money, an exciting prospect that kept them motivated throughout the course of the experience. Kathy’s work with the group home extends even further through another program she created that aims to individually hire some of the group home residents when possible, giving them the opportunity to work on-site and learn valuable job skills while establishing a place of work to later list on a resume. The initiatives are a solid first few steps toward the work Kathy and David would like to do on a slightly larger, yet more personal scale: a community organization that provides people with additional needs the chance to secure gainful employment in local businesses, grow together over different nature experiences, and learn skills while interacting with one another at the couple’s “secret garden” homestead.

An artfully blended salad encompasses a variety of textures and flavors.

As the cafe becomes more established in the town of Summerville, it becomes more established as a place where community is fostered at every turn. Recently, Kathy and David set up a public pantry, or “blessing box” on the porch, encouraging visitors to stock it with non-perishables and hygiene products for those in need. Upstairs, the couple created a free library complete with books, audio books, and movies, and diners regularly trek up the stairs to leave an item, take an item, or both. Kathy recently began offering classes on environmental floral design, teaching attendees the benefits of using more sustainable and environmentally-friendly materials to design showstopping arrangements. The pair also open their walls to local artists, allowing them to show their work for no commission fee, only asking them to donate 10-25% of any sale proceeds to a charity of their choice, a setup that has worked well for all involved. They hold themselves to a similar arrangement during their monthly Giveback Friday events, where they donate 10% of all cafe proceeds to a local charity. Finally, there are the themed dinners: once-monthly events organized with a local chef that bring people together over large, family-style dinners at sprawling farm tables. Inevitably, by the end of the evening, previous strangers become friends, swapping email addresses and phone numbers, a sight that makes the proprietors of this sweet shop feel as though their dreams of facilitating interpersonal connection are being realized right before their eyes.

For now, Kathy and David pour their hearts into The Little Cottage Community Cafe, working to establish a firm groundwork on which to build future endeavors. Securing positive staff members who understand and help to further their collaborative community mission is a high priority, and thus far, they have found a number of kind team members who fit the bill. As they grow, they look to the future, keeping their eyes on their goal of reaching and connecting as many people as possible. With earnest, authentic hearts, and a passion for every single resident of their new hometown and beyond, Kathy Schuler and David Coss are true community leaders, and their cafe is a generous contribution to all. AM