Our Mission

Curt’s Café improves outcomes for young adults living in at-risk situations through work and life skills training.

THANK YOU for checking in.

Both cafes are open for food, drink, treats and creative catering!

All orders will be prepared for carry-out and you are welcome to dine indoors at our safely distanced tables or at our outdoor tables at both cafes.

Our cafe hours are:
Tuesday thru Saturday 8:00 – 3:00PM (kitchen closes at 2:30) for both Evanston and Highland Park.

In Evanston, please call 847-868-8385 for more info and check out our current kitchen menu here.

In Highland Park, please call 847-748-8086 for more info and check out our current kitchen menu here.

Being open for 5 days instead of 6 will allow us to focus all our efforts on workforce training and cafe sales in a more efficient and productive way. We hope to see you soon! Thank you for all your continued support.

Stay tuned for expanded menus in both cafes coming soon!

Be a part of it

What's so good about 3%?

It is the recidivism rate at Curt's Cafe! Which means that since opening in 2012 only 3% of our students have returned to prison. State and National rates are both above 80%. We are so proud of our students and the futures they are building after completing our program.

CATERING

Take a peek at our Catering Menus

"JOIN" US ON THURSDAYS

May 13th, 20th & 27th
June 3rd, 10th, 17th, & 24th

PICK UP A MEAL. “GATHER” FRIENDS & FAMILY. DINE & DIALOGUE!

Order preset delicious meals by Tuesday for you and your friends.
Pick up your meals Thursday at our Evanston or Highland Park Café from 3-6 pm. Please let us know if you need to adjust your contactless pick up time. Treat your friends to dinner & dialogue too by dropping off a meal and having a Zoom date.
Heat your meal, set the table and pull out your “Dialogue Sheet.” Enjoy!

What's New?

Everything about our food and our events, our mission, our students, poetry, social justice resources, culinary tips & healthy recipes

Curt’s Café is a 2021 Impact 100 Chicago Grant Finalist

Impact 100 Chicago winners will be announced at their Virtual Grant Awards Celebration on Tuesday, June 8, 2021.

If awarded the grant, Curt’s Café will expand its curriculum to include entrepreneurial training and mentoring for current and graduate students in Cook and Lake Counties.

TEACHER APPRECIATION 2021

Let Curt’s Café design a Teacher Appreciation Treat Box with our most delicious house made baked goods

This promotion will be going on until the end of the school year.

CURT’S CAFÉ SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM GROUP

Join Curt’s Social Justice Film Group for engaging and thought provoking conversations.

First Wednesday of the month @ 7pm CST

Curt's Team

We are dedicated to providing quality training to underserved young adults and providing quality food service.

Amy Blanton

Accounting Manager

Patti Anderson

Board Member

V.P. Commercial Banking, Huntington Bank

Nina Kavin

Advisory Board Evanston

Co-founder of Dear Evanston, which addresses equity, inclusion, and youth gun violence in Evanston through storytelling and bridge-building activities.

Dana Pearl

Board Member

Retired Human Resources Consultant specializing in EEO issues, including sexual harassment awareness and pregnancy, race, national origins, religious and other forms of discrimination.

Meet Our Team

Thank You to Our Sponsors

David and Lizzie Graham

David and Frances Griffin

Beth Lewis Team, Cross Country Mortgage

The Big Dream

Came True Because Of You!
The Highland Park Café officially opened October 29, 2019

Curt’s Café Highland Park

Two years ago, a team from the organization, Open Communities, took on the goal of making social change in their community. Their desired method was to open a Curt’s Café in Highland Park (CC3). We hope CC3 will become the location of our next cafe, increasing the number of young adults Curt’s Café serves. The amazing and committed professionals at Open Communities have already worked for a full year introducing the idea to the community. WE OPENED THE CAFÉ ON OCTOBER 29TH WITH RAVE REVIEWS. WE LOVE OUR NEWEST COMMUNITY AND FEEL WELCOMED AND RIGHT AT HOME!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED TO THE OPENING AND ALSO FOR BELIEVING IN OUR STUDENTS AND OUR NEW COMMUNITY. If you would like to donate specifically to our Highland Park Café please write that in the memo section of the donation.

Learn More

EVANSTON Hours

2922 Central Street | Evanston | (847) 868-8385

Tue - Sat

8am - 3pm

Sun & Mon

closed.

HIGHLAND PARK HOURS

1766 2ND STREET | HIGHLAND PARK | (847) 748-8086

Tue - Sat

8am - 3pm

Sun & Mon

closed.

DO YOU NEED HELP GETTING A JOB?

Curts Café is a workforce training program that offers learning opportunities in Workforce Development, Life Skills Support, and Experiential Opportunities.