What We Do
Changing the food service and hospitality industry, one job at a time.
Our Mission
Cafe Overlook transforms the perception of the “work” cafeteria by pairing a diverse cafe menu with an innovative workforce development program. Located on the 16th floor of the Franklin County Courthouse, Cafe Overlook supports an evolving work environment in the hospitality industry by providing food service workers with everything they need to thrive, from a living wage and health insurance to childcare services, transportation support and job coaching. A joint project from Service! Relief for Hospitality Workers and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Cafe Overlook is an innovative collaboration between the public and private sectors with a mission to eliminate financial insecurity among those working in the service industry. Cafe Overlook offers breakfast and lunch service on weekdays, doubling as an education and training program where staff gain invaluable mentorship from industry professionals while mastering back-of-house and front-of-house skills.
We advocate for service-industry workers, working to eliminate financial insecurity, strengthen the workforce, and improve opportunities for advancement in the restaurant industry, with a goal of building a sustainable restaurant community in Central Ohio.
Our Goals for Our Workers
Living Wages
Healthcare
Childcare
Transportation
Job Coaching
Our Impact
See how we’ve made a difference in the lives of our employees as well as other service industry workers in our city.
Cafe Overlook is a workforce development program proudly run by Service! Relief Effort for Hospitality Workers, in partnership with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners. As part of the Service! initiative, our cafe provides valuable training and employment opportunities for hospitality workers, empowering them to succeed and thrive in the industry. We also offer wrap-around services, including housing, mental health support, childcare, and transportation, to ensure comprehensive support for our participants.
