Plans are underway to open a coffee shop branded as "Freedom Coffee" in San Francisco's Polk Gulch neighborhood. Building permits filed with the city indicate the new establishment will be located at 1850 Polk Street, a space previously occupied by a Pilates gym.
The brand's website describes itself as "bold, unapologetic, American. Brewed in the USA." The company's business records list Katie Tolstedt as CEO, chief financial officer, and secretary.
Tolstedt also holds a role as chief of staff for Eoghan McCabe, the CEO of Fin, a company specializing in AI customer service tools. Fin is reportedly in the process of being acquired by Salesforce for $3.6 billion. Both McCabe and Tolstedt are involved with the San Francisco Freedom Club, a social club that McCabe stated in 2024 aims to "celebrate the values that made the US so great" but is "not explicitly partisan."
McCabe told the San Francisco Chronicle that the Freedom Club has no plans to open any physical locations and emphasized there is no connection between the club and the planned coffee shop. Tolstedt, who could not be reached for comment, was also a corporate officer for Cool Tech News, a company in which McCabe invested $2 million. Business listings reportedly show the coffee shop and media company sharing the same address.
While the coffee shop's explicit political leanings are not stated, McCabe has a history of political donations benefiting Republicans, including contributions to the Republican National Committee, pro-Donald Trump PACs, and Republican politicians' campaigns. He has also publicly supported Restore Britain, a right-wing political party. An earlier, now-removed job listing suggested that automated technology might be integrated into the café's operations and hinted at potential multiple locations and national expansion. A patent filing also indicates plans for branding on merchandise such as hats and drinkware, as well as coffee beverages.