Mariah Fair is a young woman on a mission God gave her directly.
The Chicago native runs Soul Full Cafe in the Pilsen neighborhood, but it’s more than just coffee served up. Fair was led by God to create a space where people can not only relax but also find peace and healing. While surrounded by a wide range of literature on personal growth and enlightenment, amongst other topics, patrons can also utilize resources that help elevate and advance the mind, body, and spirit.
With a stated mission to “curate a safe space to enrich the community with programs of practical discussions, healing workshops, non-traditional forms of healing, and creative events,” Soul Full is dedicated to creating “positive experiences to help develop the emotional, social, and psychological power of the mind to build a stronger, more stable community.”
N’DIGO recently sat down with Fair to learn more about Soul Full Cafe, its mission, and the come to God moment that started it all.
N’DIGO: In your own words, who is Mariah Fair?
Mariah Fair: This is the first question that has ever completely stumped me. It almost made me forget who I was momentarily. I went through a crucible, and the person I would have described before the crucible no longer exists. I’m actually getting acquainted with this new version of myself. Simply put, I am a soul in search of what the true purpose of my life is and what God has planned for me. I want to define the answer to that question and live a life of which God is pleased. Right now, I believe my journey is still a work in progress. I know that the awesome things he had placed in my heart will lead me to one day be able to answer who Mariah Fair is quickly. But for now, I’m searching.
How did you conceive the idea of Soul Full Chicago?
As I do in all major decisions, I asked God for guidance. It was during the most difficult time of my young life that He directed me into isolation. He only wanted me to surrender to Him, and I understood the assignment. Since I was a small child, I knew God had his hands on me. My steps were ordered, and miraculously, I was acutely aware and in tune with my map. He allowed different people to slip into my life, leading me to other artworks. Art forms like literature, meditation, yoga, painting, poetry, and music were all arts I appreciated, but only from a distance. God started sending messages through music and movies first. Then he used TV shows and, ultimately, flowers and tattoo art to reveal incrementally what His plan was for my life.
I was literally learning from everything, and everything came together like a treasure hunt. I was blessed with a toolbox of healing. The growth from where I was to where I went was so indescribably incredible that it was clear that my only contribution to this process was obedience. Aside from my healing, it was revealed that if God did that for me, my charge was to pay it forward. That led me to open Soul Full. I mean, think about it. This life marks the beginning of everyone’s first time here as humans. If we can hurt together, why not heal together? I pulled my resources from various sources and put them in one central location.
And how would you describe Soul Full Chicago?
Soul Full is where folks can say, “Hey, come get a coffee; let’s talk about what makes your soul full; oh, and by the way, this is what worked/didn’t work for me.” Technology has made life so fast-paced that we forget to slow down and get back to basics. Basic human comfort begins and ends with centering the soul. We charge our phones when the battery is low. We fill up our cars when the gas is close to or empty. Soul Full is a fill-up station of the most important kind. After all, we are pulled in so many different directions, but we cannot pour from an empty cup.
Soul Full is a print-rich healing method and much more. It’s the safe space that puts panic and problems on pause and makes room for inner peace. It’s a place that provides light. Imagine if, in the middle of a hectic day, when you would normally take a pill to calm down, but instead, you chose to slip onto a comfy couch, curl up to a great cup of coffee, and read a subject-specific book. It sounds like a safe way to help figure out complicated equations regarding what’s internally going wrong and learn coping strategies to help uncross your wires.
Since opening, is it safe to say the space has grown beyond what you imagined?
That’s my mission at Soul Full: replenishing what has been depleted. Often, art takes an organic form of its own. My customers (souls) loved the space and the healing properties it fostered, so they asked me if they could rent the space for workshops, tributes, yoga, book clubs, classes, etc. That’s how the event space was born. I’m not attached to any one item, but I am dedicated to providing a safe space that brings empty souls together in any productive way that people can resonate with and benefit from. My assignment is becoming clearer by the day, and my end goal is to help those needing help so they can pay it forward.
Why did you choose the Pilsen neighborhood for your cafe?
Again, I was led to Pilsen. I had other options that, quite frankly, were more affordable and, from certain vantage points, could be considered more prestigious. God orchestrated every step of this journey. Once I got settled in Pilsen, I understood why Soul Full is there. I think our cultures can learn a lot from one another, and Pilsen is the “Cheers” of Chicago. Everybody eventually gets to Pilsen, and our doors and hearts will be open to receive them.
Finish this sentence: The feeling I want people to leave the cafe with is…
FULL!
What are some of the unique struggles you’ve faced as a minority entrepreneur?
Access to capital is always a struggle for minority business owners. I have experienced setbacks, but I learned later that they were just a preparation for something greater.
What are three of your personal keys to business?
PASSION, PATIENCE & LOVE…
What’s something people would be surprised to know about owning and operating a cafe?
It’s the craziest thing: when the pipes burst, or the furnace goes out, it’s your responsibility to get it fixed. I was always accustomed to someone else having to do repairs. I am now that someone else.
What is the best advice or words of wisdom for young entrepreneurs?
When it gets hard, when you feel like you’re being attacked on so many levels, embrace it. You’re on the brink of a major breakthrough. Your hard work is about to pay off. At the point when you think you can’t go on, center yourself and pray. He will guide you to the next step, and neither you nor anyone around you can stop you.
Favorite quote or affirmation?
“This too shall pass.” I got this affirmation tattooed on my arm as a reminder that everything is temporary, good, bad, and indifferent. It serves as a reminder not to get stuck in any one place. Growth is motion, and getting stuck is not an option.
What’s next for Mariah Fair and Soul Full Cafe?
Soul Full is like a two-and-a-half-year-old toddler. She needs my undivided attention. Like a toddler, she grows daily, but I want to be right there if she runs too fast and falls down. I need to pick her up. If she gets scared in new environments, I want to be there, holding her hand through the fear. As far as what’s next for me, my pen is screaming, and my hand is shaking. I have a burgeoning new book inside me that’s scratching to get out. I am definitely eager to get back on the lecture circuit as well. I know that by sharing my experiences, I can inspire someone stuck in a dark place and needs a hand to hold on the way out. There is light, and I intend to shed it wherever and whenever I can.
For more information on Soul Full Chicago, please visit www.soulfullchicago.com and feel free to connect with them on Instagram @soulfullchicago.
