Awake
Inkluderende kafé ved Trondheim Torg, åpnet i juni 2024 — drevet av Norkirken og 22B Kontaktsenter med 70 språkpraksisplasser via kommunens flyktningenhet.
History
Kafé Awake opened on June 6, 2024 at Prinsens gate 22B, inside the newly renovated Salemhuset. The building's roots trace back to 1865, when Trondheim's Inner Mission (now Norkirken Trondheim Salem) began diaconal work in the city center. 22B Kontaktsenter was established in 2004 as a collaboration between Salem, the municipality of Trondheim, and Trondheim Torg shopping center, originally targeting at-risk youth. From 2019, 22B expanded into multicultural integration work with language cafés, work training, and entrepreneurship courses. Awake is the newest work and language training arena in this tradition.
People
The daily manager of Kafé Awake is Daniel Muli Kawinzi, originally from Kenya, who himself learned Norwegian through 22B's work training program. He first worked at 22B's Korean food stall Sesam Stasjonen at the Lager11 food hall before becoming manager of the new café. Kine Vik Ravndal heads 22B Kontaktsenter, which is owned by Norkirken Trondheim Salem. At the opening in June 2024, Trondheim mayor Kent Ranum (Conservative Party) praised 22B's integration work.
Specialty coffee bar that roasts their own beans. One of very few in Norway scoring above 90 on the SCA scale for coffee brewing.
Architecture
Awake is housed in Salemhuset, a building complex designed by ROJO arkitekter and completed in 2022 at a cost of 79 million NOK. The project combines a restored 1930s courtyard building with a modern extension featuring large glass facades facing Repslagerveita. The original wooden building on the site dates from the 1700s, while the main hall and basement are from the 1920s. The café area features warm oak pillars, modern furnishings, and abundant natural light through large window surfaces, with seating for approximately 100 guests.
Location
Kafé Awake sits adjacent to the Trondheim Torg shopping center, at the intersection of Prinsens gate and Repslagerveita in Midtbyen (the city center). Prinsens gate was laid out according to Cicignon's city plan of 1681 and is one of Trondheim's main streets running from Elgeseter bridge to Olav Tryggvasons gate. The row of 18th-century wooden buildings on the eastern side of the street (nos. 9–20) are among the city's oldest surviving wooden houses and are now integrated into Trondheim Torg. Salemhuset is surrounded by Trøndelag Teater, Byscenen, and Leüthenhaven.
Practical
Kafé Awake is located at street level in Salemhuset, Prinsens gate 22B, with an entrance facing Repslagerveita — a major pedestrian passage in Trondheim city center. The venue is wheelchair accessible and universally designed. The café serves barista coffee, simple breakfast and lunch, and offers a 20% student discount with valid student ID. There is a dedicated children's area inside.
Connections
Awake is a social enterprise café where work training and language practice form the core activity. Through an agreement with the Trondheim municipality's Refugee Unit, 22B Kontaktsenter offers 70 language practice placements per year, where participants practice Norwegian and workplace skills in the café setting. 22B collaborates with NAV (Norwegian welfare agency) to bridge the gap between introduction programs and the labor market. The guiding values are hospitality, dignity, recognition, hope, justice, and belonging — aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 on decent work.
Opening Hours
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:00 – 8:30 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Local Tip
Naturmaterialer i interiøret og gjennomtenkt meny til rimelige priser. En kafé med sosialt formål som også leverer på kvalitet.