The Garage, a Teen Cafe opened on September 22, 2018 after three years of careful planning and preparation. Our space, located at 235 1st Ave, Issaquah, WA 98027, was generously donated by the City of Issaquah.
Our mission is to provide a safe, after-school drop-in place for teens where they can gather with their friends and access programming and services as needed. Here, students are not only valued for their differences but cherished for the unique history, beliefs, traditions and perspectives they bring to the Garage. To that end we work actively to connect to all students so that every voice can be heard and appreciated. We value each person at the Garage, because respecting our differences and celebrating our diversity only serves to make us stronger as a community.
The greater Issaquah area offers many teen activities – school sports, classes and extracurricular activities, YMCAs, city recreation centers, teen youth boards, and church youth groups. Despite – and perhaps because of – all the community youth activities, teens lack a place to “hang out,” an informal place where they can just drop in, talk with friends, pick up a snack, read a book, talk over homework, listen to music, create art, hold poetry slams and have access to resources.A place that isn’t necessarily programmed, but open to ideas the teens create themselves.
Our teens develop and produce all programs that happen at the Garage under guidance and support from staff. From poetry slams to board game nights, it's all up to you.
