Susanna’s Cafe is more than its tasty food. The casual beverage, sandwich, salad, and snack restaurant – which opened in mid-May as part of the Cleveland Foundation’s impressive new headquarters at E. 66th St. and Euclid Ave. – is a mission-driven operation run by the HELP Foundation, a local nonprofit that serves Northeast Ohioans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Right now, the cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, though there are plans to expand the hours in the future. On a recent visit, the cozy, comfortable venue was already in full swing, with patrons having meetings or enjoying lunch at its tables as light streamed in the big windows. The menu features coffee and other specialty drinks made with locally roasted Caruso’s Coffee, and there are also a variety of hearty, fresh salads, sandwiches that can be pressed and heated up, baked goods from Cleveland Bagels and Philomena’s Bake Shop, and snacks ranging from mac and cheese to Pierre’s ice cream. Workers help patrons check out with the help of managers and staff, and the entire operation feels homey, friendly, and well-run.
The cafe aspires to express a commitment to a fully integrated society and to start a conversation about how those with IDD – including Susanna’s employees – fit into present conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. At the same time, it aims to support local entrepreneurs and provide a place where both Foundation employees and neighbors can gather.
Read more at thelandcle.org
For more information about the cafe, go to www.restaurantji.com
