Katie’s Cup is a 501(c)(3) organization located in the heart of the Midtown District on the ground floor of the historic Lantow Building, one of the greenest buildings in the Rockford area. We are deeply committed to supporting the revitalization efforts of the Midtown District through education, engagement, and the assembly of community members from all walks of life to assist in bridging the issues that divide us. We have provided multiple low- and no-cost programs (i.e. Midtown Free Library, Book Club, Katie’s Cup Conversations series, etc.), fostered various partnerships between local businesses and organizations, sponsored a variety of public events (i.e. Cars & Coffee-Rockford, the Rockford Midtown Market and the Katie’s Cup Bookstore), supported local art (i.e. Rockford Art Guild, Rockford Area Arts Council), artisans, musicians, and much, much more. We have always provided a safe and welcoming space for all and hate has no home here. Every purchase you make in-person or online supports our efforts and allows us to continue serving the community. Thank you for your patronage and we hope you'll join us soon!
WHO IS KATIE? Katie's Cup is named after Katharina von Bora Luther, the wife of Martin Luther –the famous Protestant Reformer from the 1500’s. Martin is remembered for being at the center of the social, theological, and political changes of the Reformation. But Katharina is remembered for her strength of character, generous hospitality, and service to the community.
OUR HISTORY: Katie's Cup was opened in January of 2009 by ZION Development in partnership with Rockford Area Lutheran Ministries. In the spring of 2012, the Seventh Street Coffee, Inc. not-for-profit was formed for the purpose of purchasing Katie’s Cup from ZION Development. The transaction was completed on July 2, 2012 and now operates with both volunteers and paid staff.
WHO WE ARE: Since 2009, the vision of Katie's Cup has been to be a premier hospitality destination serving the Rockford area community. We strive to be a gathering hub for everyone across all walks of life within our own neighborhood and beyond. Our goals are to continue supporting the revitalization efforts of the Midtown District and assist in improving the lives of the people who live and work here through fuel for the body, engagement for the mind, and warmth for the soul.
Our coffee bar cafe specializes in fresh-made breakfast and lunch items; sandwiches, soups, and baked goods as well as a variety of coffee and tea options, frappes, smoothies, cold drinks, and gluten-free and vegetarian choices. Our full menu can be viewed on our MENU page. Be sure to check out our seasonal food and drink items, box lunches, and coffee catering for onsite events.
We also offer a variety of books through our Midtown Free Library (free books) and Katie’s Cup Bookstore (new and used books for purchase). Katie’s Cup is the only small, local, independent bookstore in Rockford highlighting local issues, uplifting under-represented and under-served voices within our community, and showcasing local authors and illustrators.
Katie’s Cup offers three beautiful rooms to rent for private parties, meetings, and gatherings. For more information, please check out our RENTALS page.
Our facility is located in the historical Lantow Building and is well known for being one of the greenest buildings in the Rockford area. Our green features include:
Solar panels heat nearly 50% of the buildings' water.
The entire 1st floor is heated and cooled geothermically.
The carpet is made from recycled carpet.
The ceramic tiles are partially made from recycled glass.
The wooden floors are bamboo.
Katie’s Cup is deeply committed to engaging with our local community through a variety of events. From Spring to Autumn, we are a proud sponsor of the Rockford Midtown Market (Thursday 9am-1pm) and the “Cars and Coffee Rockford” event (1st Saturday of each month). We offer a monthly book club, host various discussion and worship groups, community events, and showcase local artisans and live music. Please check our EVENTS page or our social media pages for our full schedule of events. To inquire about booking a musical performance, please email our music coordinator Ron Holm at r.e.holm@gmail.com.
You can find Katie’s Cup online at:
Facebook: facebook.com/KatiesCup
Twitter: @Katies_Cup
Instagram: @katiescup
Email: katiescupcoffee@gmail.com
TikTok: @katiescup
We look forward to seeing you at Katie’s Cup!