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Choffin students serve up coffee, cookies and a smile
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
Choffin Career and Technical Center hospitality- services student Jordan Mitchell is all set for today’s opening of the school’s Cookies & Cream Cafe.
Mitchell, 19, stands in the cafe’s doorway, his legs crossed and hands on his hips with a huge smile across his face.
“Hi, may I help you?” he rehearses.
The cafe opens today at 8:30 a.m., operated by Choffin students through 2 p.m. It’s open to school students and staff and the public. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Special-needs students are among those learning hospitality skills at Choffin.
Lori Yanacos-Clark, hospitality instructor, said it’s an opportunity to learn marketing, customer service and job skills they can use if they pursue a career in the hospitality industry.
“And definitely math,” added Charlene Hooten, an educational assistant. “Just life skills, really.”
The area off the school cafeteria used to be a storage closet, and students used to sell muffins from a cart they pushed from room to room, Yanacos-Clark explained.
She approached Joe Meranto, school’s director, and Jennifer Damico, principal, who agreed to allow the space to be converted to a small cafe.
“Construction students in Kevin Sinkele’s class put in the floor, made the counter and the awning,” Yanacos-Clark said.
The room was painted and decorated and tables and chairs brought in to add final touches.
Offerings include chocolate-chip and sugar cookies, coffee and iced tea; flavorings can be added to the beverages. New items will be added.
“It gives students an opportunity to develop skills so they can be ready when they get out of school,” Meranto said.
It also gives them a sense of pride, which may have been missing in the rest of their school careers, he said.
Student workers wear red uniforms and plastic gloves.
Ashley Lee, 17, said the gloves are to protect the food and drinks from germs.
Although she’s a little nervous about today’s rush, she’s looking forward to the opening.
“I like making coffee for people so they can feel good about themselves and to let the community know they’re welcome,” Lee said.
Deric Green, 18, says greeting customers with a smile and offering his help is an example of good customer service.
Alynn Grant, 18, said students hung up posters and distributed fliers, informing students, teachers and staffers about the cafe’s opening.
He’s looking forward to today’s opening.
“It’s giving back to the community,” Grant said.
Yanacos-Clark said the cafe is a partnership with Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley, and that organization will work with the school to establish a bank account. Students also will learn more about marketing and customer service from JA.
Chantilly Morgan, 17, and Miya Jenkins, 16, also look forward to interacting with and serving customers.
Hospitality students rotate to different areas throughout the school year. They spend time landscaping around buildings, laundering student uniforms and working in the kitchen.
The cafe adds to the experience they get in their study area. There are several others.
“The students in laundry go to the Holiday Inn, and they help cook at the Salvation Army,” Yanacos-Clark said.