ARCafé Local Foods Market

About

Inside ARCafe

ARCafe is Vinalhaven’s first and only social enterprise and Internet cafe, featuring a coffee shop, bakery, local foods bistro, and fresh foods market. The cafe has a well equipped certified commercial kitchen that produces healthy local food meals.

In 2011 customers spent over $32,000 on meals prepared in the ARCafé kitchen. ARCafe Local Foods Market sources and sells fresh vegetables and other farm products from eight island farmers and additional Maine farms. In 2011 we paid island farmers over $30,000 for their goods, and market customers spent over $14,000 on fresh fruit and vegetable purchases.

ARCafe also offers healthy heatand-serve meals to go; limited catering; pre-order of all Crown of Maine products, and WIC and EBT access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

The ARCafe models apprenticeship–style education. Students work alongside staff and other volunteers to gain hands–on experience in service sector employment, small business management, sustainable and eco–friendly practices, civic responsibility, computer technology, as well as aspects of local economic development.

Partnerships between students and adult volunteers create social ties, motivate learners, and facilitate the handing down of important skills and knowledge between generations.

The ARCafe provides youth with a fun, safe meeting space that includes Internet access and a quiet place to do homework.

The ARCafe is the only year–round place on Vinalhaven where patrons can gather socially, talk at normal volume, eat food, order hot drinks, and go online.

Strategies

operate ARCafé as a triple bottom line business

maintain a cozy gathering place and wireless hotspot

serve simple creative menu items made from the freshest local and organic ingredients

deliver top quality service through innovative approaches that focus on food access for all

Outcomes

2011
grossed 51 percent of The ARC's budget (over $147,000) through ARCafe retail operation

provided distribution of over 6,600 pounds of vegetables and over $30,000 in earnings for eight Vinalhaven farmers

served approximately 3,000 customers

served over 2,000 local foods meals, a $32,000 value

provided the only community space with daily free Internet access to approximately 4,000 individuals over the course of the entire year

employed and trained 20 local young adults to staff a cafe

trained four young women to manage a retail and service business

provided four year-round full-time salaried jobs

Anticipated Outcomes 2012
generate 55 percent of ARC budget through retail operation

distribute over 7,500 pounds of vegetables and generate $32,000 in earnings for eight local farmers

further train and develop four young women to manage a cafe

continue providing community space with free Internet access to approximately 4,000 individuals

serve over 4,000 customers