La La Land Kind Cafe: On a Mission to Help Foster Youth

The “La La Land Kind Cafe” isn’t just another place to grab a fancy cup of coffee in Santa Monica. At this coffee shop on the West Side’s trendy Montana Avenue, you’re helping kids who have aged out of the foster care system gain valuable life skills. 

I recently checked out the bright and cheery open-air cafe for NBC’s “California Live” and left with such a happy heart.

Francois Reihani, the founder and CEO, decided to focus on helping children after hearing story after story and all the horrible statistics about the problems fostered youth face. 

Reihani opened the first cafe in Texas, and just recently opened the Los Angeles location, bringing the number of cafes he owns to four.  The name “La La Land Kind Cafe” doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that we’re in the entertainment capital of the world in Southern California.  Instead, it’s meant to describe or represent a dream world. 

More than just serving up a seriously good cup of coffee and avocado toast to die for.  The cafe offers the teenagers an 8 week paid internship program, during that time they are taught life skills, receive on-the-job training, along with customer service training, and are assigned a mentor. At the end of the 8 weeks, they are helped with job placement, housing, schooling, and therapy.

Be sure and watch the story I did for California Live. As I mentioned in the report it’s not just a gimmick, the coffee is really good, and of course, customers love all the Instagrammable moments with the cups and cute t-shirts.

1426 Montana Ave #1
Santa Monica, Ca 90403