Connect
To Top

Meet Mallory Garneau of FoCo Cafe in Fort Collins

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mallory Garneau.

Mallory Garneau grew up in Lone Tree, Co. and went to Colorado State University in 2009 as an undeclared major. Soon thereafter, A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a minor in International Development was in hand, along with a multitude of experiences including studying abroad and doing service work in South Africa. It was her experience studying abroad that solidified her interest in making real-world change.

Mallory studied sustainable community development at Stellenbosch University, a prestigious institution just 45 minutes inland from Cape Town in South Africa and volunteered at Kuyasa Empowerment in Kayamandi, South Africa to help make a meaningful impact on children. After graduation, a job with teenage girls who had previously been victims of human trafficking was gone and quickly as it came, with a lack of funding for the project. This leads her to seek experiences in other cultures. First came the offer to join the PeaceCorps in Ukraine, then she finally settled on teaching English in Thailand. She taught 3rd graders at Anuban Chonburi School for seven months, where immersion in culture taught her how to love, laugh and express gratitude deeper and taught her lessons of lose, guilt, and letting go.

When she returned to the U.S., She gained her master’s degree in social work at CSU, all while interning at three different nonprofits in Fort Collins, one of which was FoCo Cafe. Less than a year into her internship, the position of executive director was offered and accepted. Mallory now oversees all Operations there and has since June 2017. Through all of this, she found herself enriched by experiences that taught the true meaning and importance of community. She has been gifted with the opportunity to do a TEDx talk in 2019, and in 2018 was one of Northern Colorado’s forty under 40, and was voted small businessperson of the year on Alignable. In Addition in 2019, Mallory began teaching undergraduate Social Work classes at CSU and also is a Realtor on a team with her husband Michael. She is passionate about people, equality, health & wellness, education and more. She believes that diversity and culture should be preserved to keep the world a rich and colorful place.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I feel I have been blessed with the life I have lived, though growth does not happen when you are in your comfort zone, so I can say I have had my fair share of obstacles. From taking over a nonprofit straight out of college to having to “Save the Cafe” in 2018, to navigating my life for extended periods of time in other countries, I would not change the hardships for the world as they brought me to where I am today. I think one of the biggest struggles I had in the last few years was being taken seriously as a young woman in my role. Many think I don’t know what I am doing, or I am too young. Some of the moments I find the most pride in my work is when I can say in my head, “they were wrong”.

FoCo Cafe – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Well, I prefer to wear several hats 🙂 I am the executive director of FoCo Cafe, Northern Colorado’s only Nonprofit Restaurant, A Realtor with Hub Real Estate, and teach a course to undergraduate Social Work Students in Community Practice at CSU.

I have been executive director of FoCo Cafe since June 2017, and it has been an extremely unique, challenging and the most amazing thing I have ever done. Through the ups and downs of the business, I have learned a lot about myself, those around me, and how too many real changes on a community level. FoCo Cafe’s mission is to provide delicious and nutritious meals to all people, regardless of their ability to pay, while using mostly local, organic and sustainably grown ingredients. We offer and hand up, not a handout. There are no free meals, but you do not need money to pay. You can pay what you normally would pay, pay it forward, pay what you can, or volunteer your time in exchange for meal. I am very proud to be a part of something that can prove that we can change and have control of our food system and being apart of a growing community that knows and shows its possible through FoCo Cafe and other community Cafes.

With my new ventures in Real Estate and teaching again, I can truly say I am blessed to have had the opportunities given to me, and those I created for myself. I love helping to make people’s dream come true through helping them with real estate, and helping to nurture young minds is something that I am enjoying very much.

I like to think my perseverance and passion has gotten me this far. Giving up was just never an option in my mind. If something was not the way I liked it, I knew I had the power to make a difference and push through to a better outcome. I have a strong passion for empowerment and helping others realize their full potential.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is, choosing to risk your significance, to live so that which came to you as seed goes to the next as flower. When you do your best, to be the best version of you, in whatever situations life might bring your way. Success can be measured in so many different ways, put simply I think success is courage and belief in one’s self and ability.

Pricing:

  • Suggested donation for a meal at FoCo Cafe – $10-$12

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Lisa Gullo, Flash house Photography ( for one with dog )

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in