Café 54

Café 54 is a unique employment training program for individuals recovering from mental illness who have an interest in returning to work and have taken responsibility for their well-being. We believe that work and personal responsibility are important aspects of the recovery process. To this end, we train individuals in every aspect of restaurant upkeep, food preparation, and food service, paying particular attention to the understanding of food safety, knife skills, recipe reading, cleanliness, attention to detail, efficiency, customer relations, courteousness, accountability, and effective communication. Simultaneously, we are a full-functioning restaurant and catering service, serving a changing menu of made-from-scratch bistro fare from the freshest available ingredients.

Café 54 is also a job placement program, primarily geared at placing people in appropriate positions within the restaurant industry. However, the training program also aids in work adjustment for other career opportunities. Our mission is to train and re-integrate our trainees back into the work force. When one of our trainees is hired, a job coach from Café 54 is available to work with the trainee at his or her new place of employment to assist the trainee in learning the new position. This service is provided at no cost to the employer. It is our goal to place those who complete our training program in long term positions where they can use their skills to be effective, skilled, communicative employees who are invested members of the employer’s team.

NEW! Cafe 54 and Cafe 54 at the Tucson Botanical Gardens have gone green! We were already using several biodegradable products, but are now expanding our effort to use more environmentally-friendly products. Our take-out wares, including boxes, bags, cups, and straws, are now made from 100% potato or corn products, are fully compostable and decompose in 180 days.