When former lawyers Amanda-Jane Thomas and Shanita Nicholas opened the Sip & Sonder’s flagship location in Inglewood, CA, in 2017, they wanted to curate a space where everyone could just exist - connect, create and commune. At the heart of their vision was the word sonder, which they explain to be the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.
Sip and Sonder was born out of the need to give marginalized and overlooked communities a home that was designed by us for us, with a warm, welcoming, modern, and unapologetic aesthetic.
“It was clear to both of us that, for myriad reasons, our community needed a space like Sip & Sonder: it was a response to the great amount of talent and creativity in the community, lack of outlets for expansive expression, and hurried gentrification that ultimately led to disgruntlement and displacement.“ - Amanda-Jane Thomas, ESSENCE
With a portfolio of coffee houses offering signature drinks, a coffee roastery, and digital content spaces, they built a brand intentional about community and sustainability. Their specialty coffee products originate from communities of color around the world.
Over time, the brand expanded beyond its flagship location, opening two others in Downtown Los Angeles at the Music Center and later in Downtown Disneyland’s Parkside Market. Over the years, Sip & Sonder became the backdrop for many milestones in people’s lives, including first dates, marriages, debates, and many quiet but impactful moments over coffee. They have hosted countless events, conversations, and gatherings that all celebrate and uplift Black and diasporic culture.
During the pandemic, when the shop was forced to close temporarily, Thomas and Nicholas pivoted to an in-house roasting program through which they offered their own blends for retail purchase. Although it has since closed two locations - at Disneyland’s Parkside and its flagship Inglewood location - the Downtown LA location remains open and both Amanda-Jane and Shanita are proud of the space they have created, as they lean into their next pivot.
“Our Inglewood story has shown the need, and all the amazingness that can come from a space like that … So how do we create that in ways that are sustainable? And not necessarily just for the Sip & Sonder brand, but actually for the community.” - Shanita Thomas, LA Times
In every brew shared, every conversation sparked, and every moment of connection fostered, Sip & Sonder proved that a coffeehouse can truly be a home for community, culture, and the beauty of shared existence rooted in an everyday expression of sonder.
