Peter Washington III spent his post-college years working remotely from D.C. coffee shops, searching for connection. Now he's back home in the Lowcountry — and he built one.
The Washington Cafe opened in November at 1111 McKnight Road in Mount Pleasant, and it's already one of the more interesting new spots in the area. Not just for the coffee. For what it means.
What's in the cup
Washington serves espresso drinks from Counter Culture Coffee and tea from Doña. The signature move: a dirty chai that combines both. He represented at the Charleston Wine + Food Festival finale on March 8 — so yeah, people are paying attention.
What's on the plate
Light bites and baked goods sourced from Bert & T's Desserts and From Scratch CHS — a company run by Washington's cousin, Trey Foy. The menu includes Charleston chewies, sweet potato pie, strawberry cornmeal cake, muffins, and sandwiches. Gullah-Geechee flavors, done right.
The family angle
This one's worth slowing down for. Washington's nieces and nephews are behind the bar. His cousin is supplying the food. His father helped design the interior. The Post & Courier describes it as "a family affair" — and that's not marketing copy. That's just what it is.
The space itself
One side is a traditional coffee bar. The other is a lounge designed for remote workers and small gatherings — soft furnishings, relaxed music, the kind of place you settle into rather than sprint through. Washington rotates art from his personal collection alongside work from local and emerging artists, including barista Nathalie Watson.
The bigger picture
Washington grew up in Cainhoy, studied at Morgan State, launched his career with PayPal, and now works remotely for Happy Returns — a UPS company. He's living proof that you can build a career anywhere. What he's building at The Washington Cafe feels like a bet on here — on Mount Pleasant, on community, on the idea that a great cup of coffee is better shared.
In January, he hosted an Educated & Caffeinated HBCU Connect event at the café. More programming is on the way.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. More at thewashingtoncafe.com.
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