Graton Station

Coffee, Culture, & Kitchen in Graton's Old Firehouse

https://wefunder.com/graton.station

Total raised on Wefunder: 27500

Total investors: 24

Quick facts

  • $625k already funded from accredited investors - additional $125k pledged to match crowdfund dollars
  • Next to new Graton Town Square (fully opening '26/'27) which already attracts thousands of visitors
  • 20-year favorable lease on prime downtown location next to bike trail, with expansion potential
  • Chef team from SingleThread, Troubadour & The Redwood, 20+ yrs combined in kitchens & hospitality
  • Seasoned manager team from food (COOK Alliance), finance (Bain), and regen ag (Farmer's Footprint)

Team profiles

Featured investor profiles

Invest in Graton Station

Coffee, Culture, & Kitchen in Graton's Old Firehouse

$28,500

of a $50,000 goal
INVESTMENT TERMS
Simple Loan
- 5% cash annual dividend or 7.5% edible dividend (in cafe credit, if elected)
- Investors may request return of principal after 5 years
This is a simple loan structure. Annual interest payments are calculated as a fixed percentage (5.0% cash, or 7.5% in Café Credit if elected) of the Investor's outstanding principal amount, and are NOT based on or contingent upon the Company's actual revenue, earnings, or business performance. The Company is obligated to make these fixed interest payments regardless of its financial condition, subject only to the liquidity limitations and other terms expressly set forth in this Note.Beginning in December 2027, the Company shall pay to the Investor an annual amount equal to 5.0% of the outstanding principal (or 7.5% if the Investor has elected to receive Café Credit). These payments shall continue annually until the outstanding principal has been repaid in full.Initial Period: No interest payments shall be due prior to December 2027. The first annual interest payment shall be due in December 2027.No Return Cap: There is no maximum total return under this Note. The Investor will continue to receive annual interest payments until the principal is fully repaid.Principal Repayment: After five (5) years from the date of issuance, the Investor may request repayment of all or a portion of the outstanding principal. Repayment requests are processed annually on December 31 and are subject to the Company's Available Cash Reserves and pro rata allocation among all requesting investors. The Company does not guarantee repayment in any specific year, and repayment may occur over multiple years.Café Credit (Edible Dividend) Option: Investors may elect to receive their annual interest payment in the form of "Café Credit" (the "Edible Dividend") instead of cash. Café Credit is dollar-denominated store credit issued by Graton Station and redeemable at a 1:1 value for eligible goods and services offered by the business.If an investor elects Café Credit, the annual return increases by 50%, meaning a 5% cash interest payment becomes a 7.5% Café Credit payment. Café Credit is expected to be issued annually on or before the applicable interest payment date.Café Credit:- carries no fees;- is generally non-transferable except within an investor's household or as otherwise required by law;- is not redeemable for cash except where required by applicable law; and- is intended not to expire except to the extent permitted by applicable law governing stored value or gift card programs.Investors should understand that Café Credit is highly illiquid, speculative, and dependent entirely on the continued operation of Graton Station. Café Credit has no guaranteed resale market or independent cash value, and may become partially or entirely worthless if the business closes, suspends operations, or is otherwise unable to honor redemptions.If Café Credit cannot reasonably be honored for at least 12 consecutive months due to business interruption or closure, the Company will instead satisfy the applicable interest obligation in cash at the standard 5% cash return rate for that period.Receipt of Café Credit may constitute taxable income even though investors are receiving non-cash value rather than cash payments. The Company may report such amounts and withhold taxes as required by law.Investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the treatment of Café Credit and other non-cash interest payments.IMPORTANT: This Note Has No Fixed Maturity Date. Unlike a traditional loan, this Note does not automatically come due on a specific date. After the initial 5-year period, you must actively request repayment in writing. Repayment is not guaranteed in any specific year — it is subject to the Company's Available Cash Reserves and pro-rata allocation among all requesting investors. Your principal may remain outstanding indefinitely. Specifically:- You may not request repayment before 5 years from the date of issuance- Repayment requests are processed only once per year (December 31 window)- If the Company has insufficient liquidity, repayment may be deferred to subsequent years- There is no guarantee of repayment in any given yearSee exact security attached as Appendix B, Investor Contracts.
$500, $5K

Highlights

1
$625k already funded from accredited investors - additional $125k pledged to match crowdfund dollars
2
Next to new Graton Town Square (fully opening '26/'27) which already attracts thousands of visitors
3
20-year favorable lease on prime downtown location next to bike trail, with expansion potential
4
Chef team from SingleThread, Troubadour & The Redwood, 20+ yrs combined in kitchens & hospitality

Related company links

Featured Investors

Team

Pitch Deck

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The Investment Opportunity

A Letter from Founders

We've spent much of our lives exploring how to nurture the kinds of places where people feel connected: to each other, to local food & culture, and to the land beneath them.
Graton Station is our attempt to do that in a practical, grounded way: transforming a historic firehouse into a café, preservatory, marketplace, and community gathering space for West Sonoma County.
We’re not building this as a “growth at all costs” company. We’re building it as a long-term community asset, with local participation and stewardship at the center.
That’s why we chose community investment. Our hope is that Graton Station becomes more than a business. We hope it becomes a place that helps strengthen local relationships, livelihoods, and shared belonging for years to come.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about what we’re building.
~ Matt, Ferrell, Tori, Adrian // Co-Founders, Graton Station

The Graton Station Story

For years, people in Graton have said, “this should be a coffee shop.” After sitting vacant for over a decade, we’re inviting you to help bring it to life.

At Graton Station, we’re transforming the town’s old firehouse into a modern-day "public house".

A breakfast and lunch cafe at its core, with a full kitchen and bread program, an onsite local marketplace, and events layered in.

A place for morning rituals, family time, and connection with friends and neighbors, owned in part by the people who use it.

A Rare Opportunity

Graton is a quaint and vibrant town with a strong local culture, growing regional visibility, but no central coffeeshop or community gathering space.

We’re in a strong position to build a business that serves this community:

  1. We have secured a long-term (20 year) lease on a beautifully restored landmark building at the center of town
  2. The site sits directly adjacent to the West County trail (bike/walk trail) and the new Graton Town Square, at a well-traveled crossroads linking nearby towns, with daily local use and steady visitor traffic, supporting both repeat customers and new discovery
  3. We are already generating community momentum and support with events, pop-ups, and partnerships

How the Business Works

  1. Daily cafe as primary revenue with coffee, bread and seasonal kitchen program as a core margin driver
  2. Events, workshops, and evening programming as secondary revenue and a demand engine
  3. Chef-led preservation program developing larder and local goods marketplace as additional revenue

Why We Can Execute

This project is the result of years of work in this exact place, not a speculative concept. We are building a place for and by locals, with clear appeal to visitors and tourists.

Proven local traction

  1. Our team (founders of ReVillage Development, the parent company of Graton Station, and ReVillage Foundation) have raised millions for revitalization work in Graton and broader West County
  2. We’ve hosted ~25 successful events over the past two years with many drawing 500–1,300 attendees, demonstrating built-in demand for daily cafe traffic and future programming

Experienced, complementary team

  1. Extensive, hands-on experience in food & beverage, hospitality, design, and community programming
  2. Team backgrounds spanning restaurant operations, development, entrepreneurship, and mission-driven ventures
  3. Our experience in high-volume events and hospitality translates directly into daily cafe operations, guest experience, and consistent throughput

Phased, de-risked approach

  1. First establishing consistent daily traffic with a coffee and light food program in early 2026, then expanding into a full kitchen with a bread and seasonal food program, plus events later this year.
  2. Building revenue streams incrementally rather than overbuilding upfront

Offering Summary

We are offering an accessible community investment note designed to offer investors a tangible return, alongside real opportunities to shape this business for maximal community benefit.

Investment basics

  1. Open to everyday investors (not just accredited), starting at $500
  2. Funds go directly toward buildout and early operations

Returns

  1. You receive 5% annual interest (cash)

OR

  1. You can opt for a 7.5% “edible dividend” in the form of café credit

Term & repayment

  1. The note is designed as a long-term, flexible investment
  2. After 5 years, investors can request repayment of principal at any time

What makes this different

  1. You are supporting a place you can actually visit, use, and share with others
  2. Many investors choose the café credit because they plan to be regular customers
  3. Why not move a few thousand dollars from Wall Street to Graton Main Street?


Overview