This Cahokia Heights cafeteria wins inaugural East St. Louis Cafe of Champions Challenge
Miss Jay’s Cafeteria, a mobile food service based in Cahokia Heights, recently won first place in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s inaugural East St. Louis Café of Champions Challenge.
First prize includes $2,000 and 12 months of rent and utility-free space on SIUE’s East St. Louis Higher Education Campus.
I asked Jere Richardson of Miss Jay’s Cafeteria how she felt about her good fortune.
“It is amazing!” Richardson said, adding that “it hasn’t really registered yet.”
Richardson said she had been putting all of her energy into the new business when she heard about the competition. She felt it was a great opportunity and entered.
“I went for it because I wanted it,” she said. “I had faith God would work it out in my favor.”
The food industry business plan competition, first announced in March, was organized by SIUE East St. Louis Higher Education Campus and the Illinois Small Business Development Center for the Metro East at SIUE.
Caterers and restaurant entrepreneurs were invited to “showcase their talents” in an effort to win the opportunity to operate their business on the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus.
The three-round competition started with a questionnaire and submission of an executive summary from applicants meeting eligibility requirements. Those selected for the second round had to submit full business plans. Semifinalists were then selected and paired with business professionals who mentored them throughout the competition.
The winners were announced June 7.
“We are thrilled to have named Miss Jay’s Cafeteria the winner of this exciting, inaugural competition,” said Jo Ann Di Maggio May, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center for the Metro East at SIUE. “The challenge was met with vigorous enthusiasm from participants, community leaders and our small business development partners.”
Richardson said their plans are to open Miss Jay’s Cafeteria at the campus around mid-July and will provide a grand opening date once it’s set.
Second-place winner Susie Q’s Catering, of Swansea, received a $1,500 prize, and third place and $1,000 was awarded to The Crab Trap, of Cahokia Heights. The other semifinalists were DJ’s Catering, of Cahokia Heights, and Queen Hattie’s, of East St. Louis.
For information about Miss Jay’s Cafeteria, call 618-671-1768 or the Facebook page.
Belleville living community gets a new name
The Esquiline on the campus shared with the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows has become Benedictine Living Community – At The Shrine.
The Esquiline joined Benedictine in January, “bringing the expertise of a leading faith-based provider of senior care and living services to the community,” according to a recent press release.
“While our name is changing, the Community’s dedication to providing quality care will not,” said Jeff Baker, interim executive director of The Esquiline. “The term Living Community better defines our campus as a resource for the continuum of care we offer to area residents. Our campus provides independent living, assisted living, rehabilitation, skilled nursing and much more.”
The name change went into effect on June 8.
In addition to the new name, the independent living area will be known as Benedictine Our Lady of the Snow, skilled nursing as Benedictine Dammert Center, and assisted living as Benedictine St. Francis.
Benedictine Living Community – At The Shrine is located at 726 Community Drive in Belleville. For more information, call 618-394-6400 or visit theesquiline.org. Additional information is available online at benedictineliving.org.
Other items of local interest:
▪ It’s official: Ziggi’s Coffee is coming to O’Fallon. O’Fallon’s City Council approved plans for the Colorado-based coffee shop, which will reside in the Four Points Center near the McKendree Metro Rec Plex and include a drive-thru, a separate walk-up order window and small patio with outdoor seating.
▪ Toastiez, a restaurant located in Greenville’s SMART Center at 102 N. 2nd St., will host a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, June 16. The restaurant held a soft opening in May. Starting on Wednesday, the menu will have more to offer, and hours will be extended for the summer. New hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information: 618-664-6544 or facebook.com/Toastiez.
▪ Plans for an addition of about 4,725 square feet of commercial space at McCullough’s Flooring, 4400 N. Belt W., Belleville, were approved by the Belleville City Council at the June 7 meeting. A digital rendering of the plans can be found on the City of Belleville’s Economic Development Facebook page.
▪ Rainbow International Restoration recently purchased and is remodeling a former computer repair shop at 5711 N. Illinois St. in Fairview Heights. The home restoration company specializes in fire and water damage restoration, mold removal, air duct cleaning, carpet cleaning and more. The new location’s owner, Kris DeWald, started with the business at the Columbia, Missouri, location.
▪ PCs for People launched a new Electronic Broadband Benefit Program offered through the Federal Communications Commission. The program, which started May 12, offers a discount for internet access and related equipment to those eligible for benefits provided by PCs for People. For information, call 618-215-3787, visit the store at 100 Florida Ave. in Belleville, or visit pcsforpeople.org.
This story was originally published June 13, 2021 at 7:00 AM.
