# Graton Station

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

- Canonical URL: https://wefunder.com/graton.station
- Entity ID: wefunder:company:198177
- Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:06:40Z
- Generated at: 2026-06-03T22:09:44Z

## 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)

## Active fundraises
- wefunder:fundraise:163368: 4(a)(6) successful (USD)
- wefunder:fundraise:163367: 4(a)(6) open (USD)

## Story
A Letter from FoundersWe'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 StationThe Graton Station StoryFor 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 OpportunityGraton 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:We have secured a long-term (20 year) lease on a beautifully restored landmark building at the center of townThe 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 discoveryWe are already generating community momentum and support with events, pop-ups, and partnershipsHow the Business WorksDaily cafe as primary revenue with coffee, bread and seasonal kitchen program as a core margin driverEvents, workshops, and evening programming as secondary revenue and a demand engineChef-led preservation program developing larder and local goods marketplace as additional revenueWhy We Can ExecuteThis 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 tractionOur 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 CountyWe’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 programmingExperienced, complementary teamExtensive, hands-on experience in food & beverage, hospitality, design, and community programmingTeam backgrounds spanning restaurant operations, development, entrepreneurship, and mission-driven venturesOur experience in high-volume events and hospitality translates directly into daily cafe operations, guest experience, and consistent throughputPhased, de-risked approachFirst 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.Building revenue streams incrementally rather than overbuilding upfrontOffering SummaryWe 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 basicsOpen to everyday investors (not just accredited), starting at $500Funds go directly toward buildout and early operationsReturnsYou receive 5% annual interest (cash) ORYou can opt for a 7.5% “edible dividend” in the form of café creditTerm & repaymentThe note is designed as a long-term, flexible investmentAfter 5 years, investors can request repayment of principal at any timeWhat makes this differentYou are supporting a place you can actually visit, use, and share with othersMany investors choose the café credit because they plan to be regular customersWhy not move a few thousand dollars from Wall Street to Graton Main Street?

## FAQ
1. **Hello, congrats on your success to date. Question on the business side. Is this a dividend payment where the board has to approve dividend payments based on cashflow or a loan where the interest compounds annually until paid.**
   - Thanks for the support and question, LD.This investment is structured as a promissory note, not a dividend-paying equity investment. Payments are not discretionary or subject to annual board approval.Interest is paid annually so long as the company is solvent and able to meet its obligations under the note. Investors receive those annual interest payments for as long as they remain invested.Principal becomes eligible for repayment upon investor request after Year 5, subject to the liquidity a...

## Team
- Matthew Jorgensen (Co-General Manager)
- Adrian Apana (Head Chef)
- Ferrell Carter (Hospitality Lead)
- Tori Immel (Co-General Manager)
- Cathy Smith-Kemiji (Design Lead)

## Q&A
- Q: Hello, congrats on your success to date. Question on the business side. Is this a dividend payment where the board has to approve dividend payments based on cashflow or a loan where the interest compounds annually until paid.
  - A: Thanks for the support and question, LD.This investment is structured as a promissory note, not a dividend-paying equity investment. Payments are not discretionary or subject to annual board approval.Interest is paid annually so long as the company is solvent and able to meet its obligations under the note. Investors receive those annual interest payments for as long as they remain invested.Principal becomes eligible for repayment upon investor request after Year 5, subject to the liquidity and reserve provisions described in the offering documents. These provisions are designed to protect both investors and the long-term financial health of the business.