Conscious Cause looks ahead amid closure of wellness lounge

As they carried materials, including the mattress of a therapy bed, out the door, Shannon Hunt and Kristen Kruger said they are looking ahead with hope as they seek a new space for their Community Wellness Lounge and Cacao Cafe.

The lounge, which opened at 734 Central Ave. only last month, had been established through a partnership between their organization, Conscious Cause, and another nonprofit, Streets of Paradise. 

Streets of Paradise had lent the use of the space, with Conscious Cause serving as its wellness outreach, on a property owned by Planned Parenthood.

However, Hunt and Kruger say that they are being required to vacate the space due to external conflicts. 

Photo by Ian Swaby

Hunt called the closure of the lounge and its "community-run and community-led" healing and wellness initiatives "devastating." The couple noted they lost an earlier space to the hurricanes in 2024, just before opening. 

He said that after serving hundreds within the last 30 days, they have come to "a screeching halt due to political agendas and separation and division."

"It's a very sad situation, and we know there's a greater plan," he said. 

Kruger said, "To be innocent bystanders caught in the crossfires amidst these types of battles, I feel that there's a higher divine purpose for the alignment of us with something like this, and so we are staying curious, our trust and faith is unwavering, and we are following our hearts to see where we’re being guided next on this journey."

Hunt said they hope to find a new space in 30 to 90 days.

According to a Jan. 16 story in the Christian Post, a complaint by a Texas pro-life group 40 Days for Life alleges that Planned Parenthood violated its tax-exempt status by providing space for a phone bank last fall supporting the Kamala Harris presidential campaign.

Streets of Paradise and Planned Parenthood declined comment to the Observer.

Cathy Bryant of Streets of Paradise confirmed that Streets of Paradise was departing the space, and said Planned Parenthood has always been supportive.

The donation-based lounge had featured alternative therapies and healing modalities not limited to custom-built beds generating electric pulses and sound vibrations, light-based therapies, an infrared sauna and a cold plunge. 

Photo by Ian Swaby

Also prominently featured was cacao, a drink known for its lower caffeine content than coffee, as well as its calming effects and its antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins.

Hunt had previously told the Observer, “We’re inviting the community to come in and share what has worked for them, whatever modality, whatever practice, whatever philosophy, whatever teachings, whatever lessons."

They say that as they pick up the pieces, they are turning towards a supportive community for help. 

"We landed exactly where we were supposed to land, and we're very grateful for the experience, and we were able to leave a huge impact on the community in just the 30 days," Hunt said. "Imagine what we can do when we land solid in the right space for a longer amount of time, so that's what we're looking for next."

Observer reporter Jim DeLa contributed to this story.