The ‘A’ Street Cafe gives insight on its A-team

With the amount of repeat customers, you’d think this cafe was staffed with five star chefs.

In fact however, the employees are special in their own way – overcoming disabilities to train for jobs in the food service industry.

“People don’t really understand our individuals with disabilities and this has just been a total change in mindset that it’s given our customers,” explains The ‘A’ Street Cafe’s manager Robin Patten.

From preparing food to washing the dishes afterwards, The ‘A’ Street Cafe prepares employees for it all.

“[It] just gets me ready to be out in the community so I like learn all that new stuff,” employee Juan Urrutia tells us.

For the customers it’s a great deal as well; all of the meals are only five dollars or less.

“Two over easy eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, toast and coffee all for five bucks – you go to McDonald’s – you’re talking about six or seven dollars a meal,” says frequent customer, Orlando Hinojosa.

The cafe is a non-profit so all of the money they earn goes back to creating more programs and improving the facilities.

“We do okay but it’s more about the training opportunities and it’s provided amazing training opportunities in customer service. Our bus people and people that work in the dining room have built amazing relationships with a lot of the customers, they’re on a first name basis and that’s what’s important to us – not so much the money part of it,” says Patten.

The ‘A’ Street Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday and even caters for parties.