Just before the pandemic hit, JGL Foodservice Consultants managed an RFP process for café operations at the Greenwich Library. Before starting this process, the Library conducted a detailed survey to ensure there was a deep understanding of exactly what the community was looking for in a new café. The results were clear; a warm and inviting location, great coffee, affordable prices, sustainable practices, and quality food.
Team JGL got creative and cast a wide net for prospective vendors. One of the applicants was Abilis. Abilis (ABLE-ISS) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides services and support for over 700 individuals with special needs and their families from birth through their life span. The Café at Greenwich Library is now run by Abilis as a competitive employment program and provides those with special needs meaningful employment, an opportunity to learn important job skills, and to be gainfully employed.
Abilis won the competitive bid process and has been proactive and creative in managing a food service operation during a pandemic. As foodservice consultants who work with a variety of caterers, restaurateurs, and food service management companies, we have been extremely impressed with Abilis’s ability to be nimble, professional, tech-savvy, and resourceful. We are equally impressed with the Library’s commitment and vision of community and how that can translate to the management of a foodservice operation.
JGL is so proud to have been a part of making this partnership come together.
Check out the article from the Greenwich Time below about the partnership as well as the Café at Greenwich Library’s new, beautiful website!
Abilis Partners with Greenwich Library for New Café (greenwichtime.com)
Home – The Café at Greenwich Library (greenwichlibrarycafe.org)