The Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City officially opened Club Café on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Club Café is a social enterprise that provides employment opportunities for young adults aged 18 to 24. Under the direction of Executive Chef Pam Green, staff are trained as baristas and cooks, learning marketable skills and credentials for the workforce.
Club Café is located at 317 N. Pennsylvania Avenue in Atlantic City. The café serves coffee and light fare, such as breakfast sandwiches and muffins. It is open to the public from 7 a.m. to 12 noon on weekdays.
“This is a workforce development track,” says Pam Green, Director of Hospitality Initiatives for the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City. “These are young adults that either have never had a job, have very little experience or are underemployed. We take them on; they become SERVSafe® certified. We teach them how to be baristas and customer service representatives. They are learning to take care of others and themselves. That’s why this is important. This is a steppingstone to going out into the world. We already have other businesses telling us, ‘Send us your kids when you’re done with them.’ This is not meant to be the end; it’s meant to be the beginning of the staircase.”
Club Café was made possible by a generous gift from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. Since its opening in 2018, the Hard Rock has been an ongoing supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City.
“Hard Rock is proud to support the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City with the Club Café opening that provides hands-on experience and training for the youths in our community. This program is an excellent opportunity for these young adults to gain invaluable work experience and we hope that everyone in the community comes out to support them. We applaud their efforts,” stated George Goldhoff, President, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
Club Café was also made possible by grants and contributions from the Community FoodBank of NJ, HayDay Coffee, Charles Gianakos Enterprises LLC, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), and the Atlantic City Police Foundation.
Pictured above are (L to R) Mike Sampson, General Manager of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City; George Goldhoff, President, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City; Pam Green, Director of Hospitality Initiatives, Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City; baristas Trenasia and Jeremiah; Dr. Charles A. Wallace II, CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, and barista Ty (pictured in the window).
About Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City:
The Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City is a nonprofit organization that has been providing a safe and nurturing environment for the youth of Atlantic City for over 50 years. Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. We offer a wide range of programs that focus on education, leadership, health, arts, and more, helping children and teenagers build essential life skills and develop into well-rounded individuals.
For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City – visit acbgc.org,
call (609) 347-2697, or email Executive Administrator Brianna Register at bregister@acbgc.org
