Hometown Cafe & Poké Bar is located in the historic Billy Taylor House in the vibrant Mt. Hope neighborhood.
The home is currently owned by a non-profit organization dedicated to community development and preserving the late Billy Taylor's legacy of empowering youth by providing positive enrichment through activities and workforce development.
Billy Taylor was born in 1956 with a congenital heart defect, which resulted in open heart surgery at two years old. He grew up on Camp Street and attended Rhode Island College, where he became deeply involved in the community through the Mount Hope Neighborhood Association.
After college, he formed an organization focused on providing opportunities to the youth in the community that were otherwise inaccessible, such as bringing them to movies, museums, beaches, and camping trips.
He believed that exposing these youth to new experiences would have a positive impact on their lives and the community as a whole. Taylor passed away from his condition at the age of 29; however, the impact of his work continues today.
We feel incredibly fortunate to call the Billy Taylor House our home. Our rent goes to supporting this incredible organization and the surrounding community. We love the rich history and diversity of Mt. Hope and, as residents of it ourselves, can't imagine a better home for our cafe.
