Northsider brings java and joy to George Floyd Square
C Terrence Anderson meets with North News summer interns during their tour of George Floyd Square. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson
By George Lange, North News Intern
Northsider C Terrence Anderson, also known as C.T., opened Bichota Coffee in October 2024 in George Floyd Square to provide a café for the local community. His goal was to ensure that Black and brown communities had access to the same amenities as white ones.
Bichota Coffee is a café that prioritizes joy, sustainability and community growth. In Anderson's own words, Bichota means “the joy and confidence you feel succeeding in a place you weren’t supposed to.”
Anderson was, until this summer, the director of community-based research at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs. There, he researched and taught the ethics behind urban development. Terrance recently stepped down from his academic work to focus on Bichota Coffee.
Bichota Coffee is located right across the street from where Minneapolis police murdered George Floyd in 2020.
Anderson made sure to communicate with nearby residents to make sure that a coffee shop was something the community wanted.
He understood the sadness and grief surrounding the neighborhood, but he wanted the business to be a place of joy, because joy and sadness can coexist. The café has hosted art pop-ups, book clubs, and even a wedding.
“I find I'm with my people here,” Anderson said. “I reject the narrative about the corner.”
Even before the murder of Floyd, 38th and Chicago had its share of problems. Rumors of violence and danger circulated, discouraging people from visiting the area and supporting local businesses.
Anderson wants more appreciation for the corner, considering it “a tremendously loving corner.” Anderson reports that he feels supported, and the people look out for one another there.
“It’s a nice, welcoming space,” Marquise Bowie said, a member of the Agape Movement who often welcomes people to George Floyd Square.
Bichota’s coffee may be on the expensive side, but Anderson said a lot of cheap coffee is grown from exploitation. Anderson buys quality coffee through “micro importers,” who make sure that the coffee is sourced sustainably and that the farmers who grow it are treated fairly and receive proper wages.
Anderson said he has relationships with coffee farms from all over the world, leading him to offer a diverse blend of coffees with new and interesting flavors.
There is a push to turn the intersection into a pedestrian plaza by local legislators. Anderson doesn’t think it makes sense to close the roads. He agrees that there should be a place for people to gather and pay their respects to Floyd, but that the community should be allowed to thrive.
Anderson said the business district and community need to grow. Closing the intersection to vehicle traffic could make it difficult for paying customers to reach the businesses.
To raise awareness for the small businesses around the square, the neighborhood co-hosted a “Black Businesses Week” event with the City of Minneapolis in July. Area businesses also launched a 38th and Chicago website to promote the area’s commercial district.