Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Johnson.
Hi Justin , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always had a passion for community, and for me that really comes from my faith. Jesus told His followers to “love their neighbors as themselves,” but I’ve realized it’s pretty tough to love your neighbors if you don’t actually know them.
Here in Orlando, that can be especially challenging. We’re such a car-centric city, and there just aren’t many natural gathering spots where people can bump into each other and build relationships. As I started learning more about social capital and social infrastructure, it clicked for me—community doesn’t just happen, people need spaces to come together. That became even more obvious during COVID, when so many of us felt isolated and anxious. And then in 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General even called loneliness the number one health crisis in America.
Out of all of that came the idea for Open House and Oh Hey Café. A group of us wanted to create something in the Lee Road area that could bring neighbors together—a place for events, conversations, and just grabbing coffee with people you might not otherwise meet.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When we first set out to create the Open House, we didn’t have any money. We needed $300,000 in 30 days to purchase the building—and honestly, there was no clear way to make it happen. But we believed that if this idea was from God, He would make a way.
So we shared the vision with our church, our family, and our friends. And almost miraculously, the funds came in and we were able to buy the building.
That was just the beginning, though. After that came a year-long permitting process, plus all the extra costs and delays caused by post-COVID supply chain issues and inflation. There were definitely days when I thought, Maybe I’ve made a mistake. But at that point it was too late to turn back—and I kept holding on to the trust that God would continue to make a way forward.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love connecting people and believe in the value that relationships add to society, regardless of class, faith, or cultural background. So that passion has been worked out in developing the Open House and in my work as a pastor.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
When I pray, coincidences happen. : )
Pricing:
- Drop into the cafe to find current offerings.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://OpenHouseORL.COM
- Instagram: @OhHeyCafe & @OpenHouseORL
Image Credits
Dylon York, Cailey Grace Mitchell, Chris Abeleda
