By Satyne Doner, Co-Editor-in-Chief
After the 36 acres of land Judge Edmund F. Dunne offered as a gift to the Benedictine monks and sisters in 1886, Café 36 opened in spring 2022 inside the Wellness Center. Located downstairs of the main gym, Café 36 gave students a healthy on-campus dining option.
Staffing constraints limited Café 36’s impact on the student body, resulting in a temporary closure. However, the university devised a plan to revitalize the space, continue providing students with nutritious meals, and connect with the local community.
“We’re looking to lease the space to local vendors to come in and be a partner with Saint Leo, but also take the opportunity to showcase their food,” Anthony DeSantis, associate vice president of student affairs, says.
Chef John Richardson founded Jon’s Gourmet Nutrition 11 years ago, turning his passion for cooking and healthy living into a thriving business. He takes pride in providing the Tampa area with organic spreads, dips, and wraps.
After attending an award ceremony at the Small Business Development Center and getting connected with Saint Leo, he knew it would be a fantastic opportunity.
“We realized that what John provides is very similar to what Café 36 provided in the past,” DeSantis says. “He’s keeping some of the old menu and providing his own products … it was a perfect fit.”
Richardson will continue with the well-loved fruit smoothies and offer milk alternatives. He will provide protein shakes with whey and plant-based proteins and spreads made from turkey, chicken, and salmon.
“My main goal is to have clean food, meaning no additives, no preservatives, no color, and organic, if possible,” Richardson says.
Only a tiny section of the menu will be available for students during the revamped café’s soft opening, which will take place from Dec. 4 through the 15. When students return in January for the spring semester, Richardson hopes to incorporate elements of Café 36’s old menu with his own creations in a full-sized menu: salads, hotplates, flatbreads, wraps, and more.
While the café will be closed over winter break, a grand opening event will take place officially on Jan. 16, and once in full swing, Richardson’s café will be open seven days a week in the Wellness Center.
It will be open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Students can use their Bonus Bucks and Lions Loot at the café, but not their meal swipes.
Overall, Richardson looks forward to continuing Café 36’s original mission: to help the community live healthier.
“Cafe 36 has always been on the healthy side of nutrition, and my goal is to continue to give the community healthy options,” Richardson says. “I want to keep everything all natural and clean, so people can maintain a nutritious lifestyle.”
For DeSantis, this partnership is an excellent opportunity to impact the campus on many levels: hiring students, meeting with RAs, speaking with student government, and becoming familiar with Saint Leo.
“I think it’s just an amazing partnership that we’ve been able to develop and show people that we can provide another option for people to eat on campus and benefit our local community,” DeSantis shares. “I think it’s a win-win from both perspectives.”
