Bakery that trains individuals with disabilities expanding to open uptown Charlotte cafe

Charlotte Observer - 5/1/2023

In 2021, we shared the story of Cakeable Charlotte — a nonprofit that provides individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities job training and future employment opportunities. Just three years later — thanks to the overwhelming support of the community — what started as a small group of individuals training and baking out of the home of founders Renee and John Ratcliffe will soon be a brick-and-mortar cafe.

Cakeable Cafe will open uptown this fall, creating the opportunity to enroll 32 special needs adults in its job training program. This program is designed to teach soft job skills that are transferable, provide students with a sense of independence and confidence, and ultimately help place them in jobs within the community.

[READ NEXT: Here are 16 Charlotte area businesses that give back to the community.]

In addition to the cafe, Cakeable will continue to train 10 individuals at its bakery kitchen, which recently moved to a larger location within Sweet Spot Studio.

So how did this all come about? It was CharlotteFive’s 2021 article, actually. “Someone sent it to two gentlemen in Winston Salem who founded Moji Coffee + More. They were looking to open in Charlotte and asked if we would be willing to partner,” Renee Ratcliffe said.

Ultimately Moji Coffee — which has a similar mission of helping individuals with disabilities — decided to keep its focus in the Winston-Salem area, but its founders Charles Reitz and Tim Flavin (who are now on the Cakeable board) did something that truly speaks to the heart and focus of these two organizations. “They said we still have space that was donated for five years and funding in place, so we want to give that to Cakeable to take over. The opportunity to serve our baked goods in our very own Cafe has infused Cakeable with renewed enthusiasm for our inclusive mission.”

In addition to the space on North Tryon, which was donated by Bank of America, the funding includes $150,000 from food service company Compass Group and its subsidiary Canteen to cover equipment, upfitting costs and the first year salary for a cafe manager.

But it doesn’t end there. Local architect John Fuller of Fuller Architecture in Mocksville is donating his time to help with the design of the space. Cakeable was also able to secure a $810,000 grant from Mecklenburg County, empowering the Radcliffes to make the cafe a reality.

“The community has truly affirmed the abilities and potential of our team members. We have faithful customers at the Uptown Farmers Market, and our team has received a big boost in confidence to see their baked goods for sale at Julia’s Cafe and Books and at the CPCC Parr Center. It means so much for our customers to tell us that they choose our baked goods, not only because they appreciate our mission, but also because the goods are really delicious,” Ratcliffe said.

On the job training

Once individuals complete the training program at Cakeable, they will receive a certificate and assistance with job placement from a team coordinator. “We want you to train with us, we want you to be successful and we feel like we will have a bigger impact on the community if we can help give you those skills and then place you in the community,” Radcliffe said.

“One of our trainees works at Harris Teeter, another is doing an internship at Novant Hospital and another uses her skills to volunteer at another bakery. With the skills they gain at Cakeable, they are really finding out how to be successful in other areas of our community.”

Cakeable will be offering information sessions throughout Charlotte this summer for individuals interested in learning more about the program. Details will be posted on Instagram, Facebook and on the new Cakeable website wearecakeable.org, expected to launch later this month. Individuals can also be added to the email list by reaching out to hello@wearecakeable.org.

Cakeable Cafe will feature both indoor and outdoor seating and will be open for breakfast through early afternoon. Expect baked goods including muffins, pastries, mini cakes, brownies and cookies, as well as coffee from local company Haerfest Coffee— which also has its roots in helping people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

[ALSO OPENING UPTOWN: 2 new restaurants from Kindred, a taqueria and a sushi restaurant.]

Cakeable Charlotte

Location: 401 North Tryon St.Charlotte, NC 28202 (opening fall 2023)

Instagram:@wearecakeable