Phoenix, Ariz., Aug 29, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Business was growing, the coffee was great, and the Word divine, but after one year in operation, a Catholic coffee and sandwich shop in Phoenix has decided to close its doors.
Café Fiat opened in July 2004 when a group of young lay Catholics decided to combine evangelization with the casual, unimposing atmosphere of a coffee shop.
"If people asked, we would talk about [our faith]," Steve Phelan told the Arizona Republic. "It is like reintroducing Catholicism to mainstream culture."
Phelan, Bill and Minden Agar, Teresa Revering and JoAnne Bouchard worked at Maggie's Place, a home for unwed expectant mothers, and decided to enter this faith-inspired venture together.