Help Us Build the Dawn Butterfly Café: A Tribute to Coral Dawn

We are embarking on a heartfelt journey to build a larger and more accessible location for The Dawn Butterfly Café, which opened its doors in November 2022 as the first full service espresso bar in the historic village of Taos Pueblo.  Opening the café had been the first step in realizing the lifelong dream of CJ Bernal and his sister, Coral Dawn Bernal, which was to create a cultural center for the arts in Taos, New Mexico.  After Coral’s tragic and untimely death at age 33 during the COVID-19 pandemic, re-opening the café became part of the healing process for her family.  Coral had been a prolific writer and poet, and her mantra that “Art is Healing” gave them the motivation to get the café going again and revitalize their gallery space on the Pueblo.  Her mission of creating a cultural center for the arts became a unifying focus for making the café an economic success. 

The Dawn Butterfly Café is a native owned and operated establishment specializing in signature espresso beverages, indigenous food, and other drinks.  We also offer catering services in our county of Taos, New Mexico.  Since opening our doors, the café has grabbed local as well as national attention, with write-ups in five magazines, such as Rhizo magazine, Edible New Mexico, and Forbes.  We have also been featured in an episode of “Eat, Play, Stay” by the Very Local television network.  The Dawn Butterfly Café integrates a workforce training program into its business operations and, since opening, has employed ten tribal members.  We also work and collaborate with multiple native owned businesses, such as Spirit Mountain Roasting, Whitefeather Native Cultural Tours, etc.  As the work on building out the full service restaurant occurs at the Veterans Highway site, we are continuing to provide a heartfelt, unique, educational, and tasteful experience for our customers and community at our original location within the traditional Taos Pueblo Village.  Our future endeavors for the Veterans Highway location include Coral’s and CJ's envisioned cultural center, which will be a venue for events, art markets, service industry training, and community meetings. 

Why We Need Your Help

To bring The Dawn Butterfly Café to life, we need additional funds for materials and construction.  Your contributions will help us build a space where the community can come together to enjoy delicious food, breathtaking views, and a sense of togetherness.  Every dollar you donate will bring us one step closer to opening this native owned café and restaurant on Taos Pueblo, in celebration of Coral's legacy.

What Makes the Dawn Butterfly Café Special

    1.    Sustainable Design: The Café will be constructed using recycled shipping containers and other recycled materials, demonstrating our commitment to environmental sustainability.

    2.    Community Spirit: The Café is a tribute to Coral Dawn, reflecting her spirit and the love she shared with everyone around her.

    3.    Scenic Location: Located on Taos Pueblo, diners will enjoy the most beautiful views of Taos Mountain while savoring delicious, locally-inspired Native American cuisine.

    4.    Native American-Owned: The Dawn Butterfly Café will be a proud native owned establishment, contributing to the local economy and honoring indigenous traditions.

Join Us on This Journey

We invite you to be a part of this incredible journey.  Your support will help us create a space that not only honors Coral but also brings joy and community to everyone who visits.  Together, we can build something truly special—a place where memories are made, stories are shared, and the legacy of Coral lives on.

How You Can Help

    •    Donate:  Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to our goal.  We will recognize all contributors on our donor wall and would love to add your name and/or custom message on any item you help us purchase.  Please see the Perks for the list of items we need help purchasing, including furniture, doors, our front counter, flooring, signage, and even our Wi-Fi network.   Included in our Perks is a "Private Dinner for 8" prepared by CJ, as well as a "Custom Inlayed Art Piece" created just for you by members of the Bernal family. 

    •    Share:  Please spread the word about our campaign with your friends, family, and social networks.  If you know of any businesses who would like to help out and have their name displayed on an item they purchase, please let them or us know.  

    •    Support:  You can follow our progress and cheer us on at PangeaBiotecture.com/Cafe as we work toward opening The Dawn Butterfly Café.

Conclusion

With your help, The Dawn Butterfly Café will become a reality.  Imagine dining in a beautiful, sustainable café, surrounded by the stunning views of Taos Pueblo, knowing that you played a part in bringing this dream to life.  Please donate today and join us in honoring Coral Dawn’s memory by creating a space that embodies love, community, and sustainability.  

Thank you for your support!