Sojourner Photo Book

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This website is a digital archive of the photo book put together by Jacob Scherer and Elias Roman as a token of our gratitude, love, and memory of Sojourner Coffee, a specialty coffee multiroaster cafe formerly located at 137 W 116th St in Harlem, New York City. The cafe was founded by partners in business and life James Miller and Madison Ritter, seeking to open a place not only for amazing coffee but for community and hospitality. It was open from the spring of 2022 to the early summer of 2025, with Jacob working there for around 2 years and Elias working there for around 1 year. Over the course of those 3 years, Sojourner was the home of connections between neighbors and others across the city who otherwise would have drifted on their own separate paths, never intersecting without this cafe. It brought so many people together, and that memory needed to be kept alive in its absence. This is for James, Madison, all the regulars, and Sojourner.

- Jacob Scherer

What Made Sojourner Special

Coffee shops – what do we want from them? Caffeine, a snack, maybe a decent meal depending on the mood. These are all fine things to seek out, sensible even. In my experience though, I've found that most people are just looking for some company.

They're looking for someone to talk to, someone who will listen to their stories and gripes. Some will even settle for simply sharing a silent moment with a stranger. No words. Sometimes not even a glance. Just one another's company.

For the past year or so, Sojourner has been all of these things. The pastries were delicious and the coffee was spectacular, but what really made Sojourner the best shop in the city was James and Madison's unrelenting commitment to the neighborhood and its people. You can find good coffee anywhere, you just have to look hard enough. Good people, on the other hand... those are hard to find.

Sojourner, forever.

- Elias Roman

Thank you to Neocities for the website hosting, and thank you to Jack Grimes for his "Free Website" template that this website is built off of.

The Sojourner Coffee Photo Book

James, Madison, and their trusty pooch Hatch. The maestros.

last words

"it's funny,

now,

trying to find the words

to describe this place

that found all of us;

sat us round those little tables;

gave us warm wonders to drink;

and raised our spirits

past the everyday walls

so that we could see each other,

hear each other and, together,

find words and stories to share;

and now, as the door closes,

i see that the truest words—

the right, bright lightning bug words—

are with all those very folks

who helped me find and bottle them,

one morning after another;

while the words i have on me,

now,

are but two:

thank you

thank you

(actually, three:)

love you

thank you"

- Daniel Soler

"Dear James and Madison:

Thank you so much for Sojourner. It was an outstanding coffee shop, yes, but also a welcoming space that introduced and connected people to one another--a real gift and sanctuary for the neighborhood. It will be sorely missed. So a bittersweet goodbye, but we wish you both the absolute best in your future endeavors!"

- Ian & Alexandra Taylor

"Dear James and Madison,

You’ve been the highlight of our time in Harlem.

You helped revive the spirit of the neighborhood and a sense of community after the pandemic.

You created a dream space for spontaneous gatherings and conversations—something rarely possible in the “pressure cooker” of New York City.

You also spoiled me: my morning matcha became a daily ritual that kept me “maintaining” while surviving in the insane world we live in.

You will be deeply missed—and I have faith that one day you’ll open new doors somewhere in the hood. We’re all here for you and ready to help!

Much love and appreciation"

- Alla Kovgan

"Sojourners— a place to meet new people, make new friends, and have the world’s greatest cup of coffee. For us, it has been this and so much more. We have connected with professors, screenwriters, business people, and rollerblading enthusiasts, forming a strong community. James and Madison, no matter where you go, we will be here to support you. Just know you have created something beautiful that has a lasting impact on the lives of the people in your community. We are forever grateful and can not wait to see where your journey takes you. Best of luck! Thank you for the coffee of a lifetime."

- The Nances: Russell, Chrissy, LuLu, and Gigi (who will miss your “warm” chai lattes)

PS - It’s not coffee, it’s magic bean juice.

"There’s something special about Sojourner. Just walking by you wouldn’t know its warmth, the satisfaction of a short visit turned long, perfect strangers trading stories, leaning close on small stools, hard knocks softening, neighbors satisfyingly sipping.

"You wouldn’t know how good it felt to step into the wonderful smell and hear your name among smiling faces. But those who know are ever grateful to have been part of the experience. We give thanks to the heart and sweat of the Sojourner crew: James, Madison, Jacob, and Elias! The coffee was damn good but the people were better. Now we’re carrying the spirit with us."

- Ashley & Kendel Gray

"Somehow, you extracted the social synchronicity of Cheers out of the TV and brought it into reality, as if you were able to put your hand through the glass like it was liquid and grasp the very essence of community and released it by opening your fist and blowing the dandelion like seeds, scattering the warmth and connection across the shop. None of it would’ve been able to grow as it has without the passion and craftsmanship for making the best damn cup of coffee the world has ever seen for every day people. Thank you for changing my life."

- Ryker Youd

"In 2017 I moved to Harlem. By 2019, I knew two names in the neighborhood: Magdalena, my wife, and Jodianne, my wife’s friend. Daniel Rebecca Ryker Elias Ola Katie Russell Chrissy Jacob Marcella Philaine etc etc Madison James. I know so many names that I forget names now. This never happens unless you two show up every morning, welcoming me warmly despite being beaten down by 80 hours of work a week, truly providing something beautiful to sip on every day. I don’t stay unless that cup is exceptional. I don’t know my neighbors unless that cup is exceptional. The neighborhood was excellent with you in it. Bring that excellence to your next endeavor. The effects of your effort press deep into the lives of others, or at the very least into my life."

- Jesse Lussier-Gan

"Sojourner has been more than a coffee shop. It's been a neighborhood refuge where James, Jacob, and Elias know your name, your order, and sometimes even your mood before you say a word. Someone recently called it the Cheers of Harlem, and honestly, that's exactly right. So here's a little tribute, with love and caffeine:

Sojourner Farewell (to the tune of Cheers)

Making your way through the world today

Takes everything you've got

Stopping in at Sojourner

Sure did help a lot

Wouldn't you like to stay a while?

Sometimes you wanna go

Where everybody knows your name

And they're are always glad you came

You wanna be where you can see

Our troubles and laughs are all the same

You wanna be where everybody knows your name.

Thanks for the memories, the coffee, and the community. Harlem won’t be the same without you."

- Philiane Phang

"My husband once asked me, as we wandered into Sojourner, 'are people paid to sit there and talk to one another?'… I reflect fondly on many a moment how Sojourner Coffee shop became a place of community and connection. However, there was an unwritten rule to have at least a sip of coffee before engaging in banter or discourse across the parlor. Nonetheless, hospitality and warmth were standard and the dedication to each pour was worth more than the inevitable effects of what was in my cup. Have a good one and I’ll catch you next time…"

- Katie Pouga

"Like so many other people, Sojourner has become a fixed point for me. I haven’t known a version of New York City without it. Thank you for giving us all a place to go."

- Sarah Delima

"Even though I have only been in New York for 4 months and tried a VERY large number of coffee shops, Sojourner remains one of my favourites. The coffee is so delicious and you can tell that all the baristas truly put a lot of care into making each drink. Also, everyone there is so lovely and kind, which makes the experience even better!"

- Nina Onatskaia

"In a city where it’s so easy to be pulled in several different directions, it’s always special — or maybe even serendipitous — to find a place that makes you feel grounded. I was lucky to stumble upon just that in Sojourner on one otherwise mundane Sunday morning. Thank you for the oat chai lattes, the great conversations, and the sense of community. I’m grateful to have been welcomed in and even promoted to 'regular' status. Wishing the entire team the very best in your next chapter. Stay gold."

- Kendall Easley

"Dear James and Madison,

Many many thanks for the charming and warm social space you offered us all. Delicious and lovingly prepared drinks served by thoughtful individuals working together with intention and friendship.

Sojourner is a unique community center we will carry in our hearts.

Take good care and let us know what is next!"

Xoxo

- Dedalus Kovgan

"It was a little over a year ago that I wandered into Sojourner looking for a job. I wasn't quite sure what to expect going in, honestly, I was just grateful that you guys took a chance on me. Since then, Sojourner has become way more than my place of employment. I've been lucky enough to not only have had some of the best bosses I will ever have, but to also have found a close friend in Jacob. I've met so many people throughout my year at Sojourner; some have become close friends, while others I only ever saw once or twice. Everyone has left me with something: a smile, kind words, a generous cash tip. The most important thing that Sojourner has left me with, though, is the knowledge that there is dignity in serving and attending to people well. Thank you for everything. Sojourner, forever!"

- Elias Roman

"I don't have to tell either of you that working in coffee and/or food service is pretty fucking tough. I love working in coffee, but the time I spent working in coffee after covid was a real drain. Going from cafe to cafe, dealing with bad work environments, low morale, poor management, shitty coffee, and a customer base that couldn't care less for me or the other staff.

All that changed in 2023 when I joined Sojourner.

James, Madison, if there was a yiddish dictionary with the word "Mensch" in it, you two would be right there next to that definition. You two poured your hearts into Sojourner not just to make something you can be proud of (which you did!) but to make a place that treated staff and customers not just decently but generously, patiently, kindly, welcomingly.

Working at Sojourner (in between being bullied for my eatin and media-consuming habits) was the life raft I needed as I was adrift in the most torrential waters of this ocean called the barista life. The customers being as amazing as they were was luck of the draw, the coffee was just a matter of good taste and care, but everything else - the warmth of that place, the dedication to community and art, the commitment to quality, decency, and open-heartedness...that's all on you two.

Never forget the good you two did here."

- Jacob Scherer

Bonus Memories

More coming here soon, check back!

Guest Book

If you didn't get a chance to write a message for the physical book, missed out on the creation of this project entirely, hadn't been to Sojourner in so long that you didn't realize it closed, or just found yourself on this website without any knowledge of Sojourner and just feel like saying hi, please leave a comment here in the guest book.

Hello!

This one-page style of website does allow you to have sections that don't appear in the nav, since you choose what to type up there. But it's still all visible in the source, so it's a bad hiding place.