Tuesday, January 20, 2026 5:00PM
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — From a painful past brews a hopeful future.
Once incarcerated, Eugene Gilyard fought for more than a decade to prove his innocence. Upon his exoneration in 2013, he went to school and built his life back together.
Gilyard first opened ‘Freedom Coffee House’ in North Philadelphia’s Logan section in 2025. He runs it with his family by his side and operates seven days per week.
The Philadelphia native relied on faith to get him through his nearly 16-year incarceration. He was aided by the Innocence Project to secure his release.
Watch the video above to hear Gilyard’s story in his own words.
To learn more about Freedom Coffee House, visit their Instagram page.
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