On Tuesday, June 3rd, Stone Soup PDX Cafe opened at 7400 NE Glisan Street, marking the culinary training nonprofit’s return to direct customer sales after closing its downtown storefront at the start of the pandemic. The cafe will serve breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Starting in July, Stone Soup’s operators expect students to begin staffing the cafe as they learn food service skills in a 12-week program geared toward individuals who have recently experienced housing insecurity.
Stone Soup PDX’s Executive Director, Ellen Damaschino, thanked the supporters of the cafe during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 2nd. Her appreciation extended to a collection of project supporters, including local business Montavilla Station, located blocks away off SE Stark Street and 80th Avenue. After brief remarks and a certificate presentation by the East Portland Chamber of Commerce, Damaschino welcomed guests into the corner storefront for samples of some of the caffeinated drinks and pastries on the shop’s menu. The counter-service cafe offers several tables for dine-in customers, or they can take their coffee and food outside, where they can enjoy limited outdoor sidewalk seating. This relaunch of cafe dining is a significant step for the organization, which was forced to cut its customer-facing program due to nationwide challenges. Serving customers in the cafe is in the nonprofit’s roots — sustaining people through both sides of the food service industry.
Stone Soup PDX opened in its original location on NW Everett and Broadway in 2019. They operated primarily as a cafe and training kitchen until COVID-19 forced a shift in the group’s operations. “So it slowed down a lot during the pandemic, and that is when we really kicked up the Community Meals program,” recalled Damaschino. “We make about 1,500 meals a week for the community. Those are for places like shelters, mental health facilities, and transitional housing. So exactly the places that our participants come from.” That shift enabled the organization to establish a production kitchen on SE Powell Boulevard, where program participants spend four weeks preparing meals that volunteer drivers deliver to Portland locations.
A year ago, the organization closed its Downtown location, and in late 2024, they began working from the Beacon at Glisan Landing building on the corner of NE 74th Avenue and Glisan Street, starting with educational programs. In that work, participants receive basic instruction and engage in weekly “check-ins” with the support services coordinators, who work to ensure students have the necessary supplies to succeed in the program. With the cafe now serving customers, students will soon have the option to train in either the NE Glisan Street commercial kitchen or the SE Powell Boulevard location for a four-week segment. This bifurcated path allows students to choose which skills they intend to strengthen. The cafe work will provide students seeking restaurant employment with hands-on experience in a functioning commercial kitchen serving walk-in customers, complete with associated expectations and workflow but guided by the support of instructors.
Stone Soup PDX plans to introduce a new role within the organization that will focus on supporting students as they transition out of the program and enhancing connections between individuals and employment opportunities. That position will also help alums as they find their post-training position in the workforce and begin to secure economic stability, sustaining permanent housing and self-confidence. Through a continued relationship with the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, links from the association’s site will bring potential employers to a directory of Stone Soup graduates, showing the job seeker’s relevant skills. Program operators believe this will become a significant enhancement for students progressing through the program, improving their chances of securing employment and applying the newly acquired culinary skills.
The nonprofit encourages people to support Stone Soup by visiting the cafe as part of their morning routine or grabbing some of the shop’s soups and sandwiches for a quick lunch. They also expect the pastries to become a welcomed pleasure throughout the day for those looking for a sweet treat outside of mealtimes. All proceeds support the workforce training program.
Correction: A previous version of this article listed the operating days as Tuesday through Thursday. They are open Tuesday through Friday. Montavilla News regrets this error.
Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Greg Beddor – SEO Specialist, an Oregon based digital marketing consultancy. The company markets customer’s websites and provide SEO services to grow their business. We thank them for their support.
