the future - a community restaurant

We are now aggressively looking for an available restaurant space (and funding) in order to serve our community with all of our resources.  We've had a couple perfect locations in our sights, but no luck as of yet.  With all the success we have had over the past couple years, you might ask yourself - why change or grow?  Here are a few reasons why:

• The demand for our services is increasing rapidly and we don’t see an end to the need - particularly with the inflated cost of food adding more people to the list of the underprivileged.  Although our vision is a world without hunger, quite frankly we still have a lot of work ahead of us to get there.  
• We are outgrowing the space at the church.  With the success of the Sunday Food Pantry, we are running out of room for all of our supplies, including refrigeration. 
• We need a commercial kitchen.  In order to be able to uniquely prepare the various foods we receive, we need a well-equipped kitchen with proper refrigeration and appliances. 
• Although the Rotary and BBPC will always be our partners, they are involved in so many other causes in addition to this - getting into an additional location will ease the pressure on them.  PJCK is an additional organization with our efforts and fundraising targeted solely for this specific purpose.
• We feel that a suitable central workspace and commissary can help connect the efforts of all the local food charities and make all of our work more efficient.  There are currently no chefs working at the food banks, so we will carry the torch in the culinary department and help them turn their raw product into nutritious meals.  
• Our new concept, although not exclusive, is not yet offered in our community.

PAPA jim's comfort kitchen will have a non-profit community restaurant that serves both paying and in-need individuals and families.

Here's why we can and must do this:

• Papa Jim is a uniquely skilled chef that has a long resume of success in the restaurant industry and in culinary-based charitable fundraising - so our experience level is paramount. 
• Our community is filled with like-minded citizens that would like to contribute and participate in our efforts with the added benefit of something of value in return.
• Our neighbors in-need will be welcomed into a warm, judgement-free establishment anytime for a nutritious meal.    
  • See JBJ Soul Kitchen
• We will reach more people, more hours of the week.
• We will be a healthy choice of dining - producing a wide variety of ethnic and local foods.
• Our central kitchen will be in the core of the community and increase our ability to help our partners and those they serve.   Branchburg Rotary, Bound Brook Presbyterian Church and the local food banks will benefit even further.
• Once we get going, we plan to be mostly self-funded.

What else can we do?

• We will have community outreach professionals and counselors on-site.  They will be able to help our guests who are struggling in life - with the many social services our community has available. 
• We’ll be a source of employment for those in the community needing work.
• We’ll be a place of comfort for those looking to lend a hand in exchange for a nutritious meal.
• We will hold bilingual cooking classes to teach the community how to help themselves.
• Similar to how we helped those devasted by Ida in Somerville last year, we will be disaster-ready for the community.
  • See World Central Kitchen
• We will use our venue as a place for community meetings.
• The space will be perfect for fundraising events.

How will we do this?

• While it will take some initial fundraising for start-up costs, we feel that our restaurant will be self-sufficient by offering meals to the general public for compensation.  We have a comprehensive fundraising plan that includes expert grant writing.
• Our prime costs will be dramatically different than that of a traditional restaurant.
  • Our COGS will be much less than the 35% a profitable restaurant is running.  
    • The menu will be based on the food that is available to us - and will change weekly, even daily, as needed.
  • Our Labor will be lower, as well.
    • We will use our volunteers efficiently.
    • 3 of our members have over 100 combined years in restaurant experience.
    • Any paid staff hours will be managed professionally.   
• Our goals are quite different than for-profit restaurants. 
• Our success won’t be measured in bottom-line dollars, but in bellies filled.

If you have an interest in getting involved with our restaurant and its service to our community, but have some questions or concerns, Papa would love to sit down with you and discuss in detail everything about this worthwhile venture.  

​Contact Papa Jim
jim@papajimscomfortkitchen.com
732.232.3984

p:  732.232.3984
e:  jim@papajimscomfortkitchen.com