Last month, we had the pleasure of visiting
Curt's Cafe in Evanston. Curt's Cafe pairs a warm cozy cafe, perfect for breakfast, lunch or a snack, along with a purpose.When you walk into Curt's Cafe, you will immediately embrace its relaxing atmosphere. Curt's is the ideal place to grab a cup of joe or a scone and power up to get a little computer work done!
Beyond functioning as a delightful cafe, Curt's provides restaurant training for at-risk youth in the Evanston area. Curt's provides a positive atmosphere where youth can learn important skills to aid in future employment and a productive future.
Susan Trieschmann, the Executive Director and driving force behind Curt's, enthusiastically shared her cafe with us. We sat down in Curt's comfortable space with some wonderful tea, coffee and even a green smoothie to talk with Susan, Lori (Director of Community Relations) and one of the students. Everyone was very personable and truly added to Curt's "neighborhood cafe" atmosphere. Here is what we learned about Curt's:
Mel's take: Susan used the word "incubator" while chatting with us. Upon reflecting on our visit, I see the cafe as a multi-purpose incubator. The cafe is not only an incubator for the skills of at-risk youth but also for the neighborhood as a whole. Locals can come together for a coffee or a sandwich and enjoy some time together or even have a light business meeting. Additionally, Curt's Cafe serves as a small business incubator by allowing another aspiring food business, Just 8 Pizzeria, share the space in the evenings. Curt's Cafe fosters so many purposes all at the same time!
Last month, we had the pleasure of visiting Curt's Cafe in Evanston. Curt's Cafe pairs a warm cozy cafe, perfect for breakfast, lunch or a snack, along with a purpose.When you walk into Curt's Cafe, you will immediately embrace its relaxing atmosphere. Curt's is the ideal place to grab a cup of joe or a scone and power up to get a little computer work done!
Mel's take: Susan used the word "incubator" while chatting with us. Upon reflecting on our visit, I see the cafe as a multi-purpose incubator. The cafe is not only an incubator for the skills of at-risk youth but also for the neighborhood as a whole. Locals can come together for a coffee or a sandwich and enjoy some time together or even have a light business meeting. Additionally, Curt's Cafe serves as a small business incubator by allowing another aspiring food business, Just 8 Pizzeria, share the space in the evenings. Curt's Cafe fosters so many purposes all at the same time!