Cartel started in Tempe, Arizona, and this state will always be home. Twelve of our thirteen locations are here. Our production facility is here. The community that built us is here.
Arizona gave us room to figure out who we were. The specialty coffee scene in Phoenix was just starting when we opened in 2008. We were among the first roasters in the Valley to focus on sourcing exceptional coffee and treating it with respect. The community responded. People showed up, became regulars, and told their friends.
Now we’re expanding into California with our West Hollywood location. It’s a big step, but it feels right. Southern California has a thriving coffee culture and community looking for the kind of spaces we create. We’re not trying to be a massive chain. We’re bringing what works in Arizona to places where it can make a difference.
Staying independent while growing is hard. You have to resist the pressure to sacrifice what makes you special in pursuit of scale. Every decision gets filtered through this question: does this move us closer to who we want to be, or does it dilute what we’ve built?
That’s why community ownership matters. When the people who care about Cartel own a piece of it, we stay accountable to what actually matters.
Visit our StartEngine page for investment information.
This Reg CF offering is made available through StartEngine Primary, LLC. This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment.