In addition, Nexus — which will open its doors at 627 Prospect Ave. on April 2 — will provide a place where those living and working downtown can serve their city through coordinated volunteer service opportunities.
"Nexus means a place of connecting, and that is precisely what we envision for this new cafe," said Mickey DeAngelo, head chef and Nexus co-creator. "At the heart of Nexus is a goal to be a catalyst for building a healthy and thriving community as well as a community empowered to address important local and global issues."
To accomplish this, a portion of the proceeds from every coffee and meal purchased will be invested in the city through Nexus' "Cleveland, I Love You" initiative. Through "Cleveland, I Love You," Nexus will work with local nonprofits, churches and social agencies to actively promote community service.
Nexus' impact will be global as well. Each cup of coffee sold will support and provide opportunities for farmers from the highlands of Kepahyang — an area known for producing superior single-origin coffee beans — through a sustainable partnership DeAngelo forged when he visited Sumatra in 2011.
Nexus will also support local businesses, including Berea-based Red Cedar Coffee Co., which will roast Nexus' coffee beans, and several Northeast Ohio farmers and artisans who will provide the ingredients for Nexus' menu.
DeAngelo previously was sous chef at Saucy Bistro in Westlake and executive chef at Vaccaro's Trattoria in Akron. His Nexus menu will feature seasonal dishes, including items such as espresso encrusted pork tenderloin wraps, cream spinach grilled flatbread pizzas and wheat berry salads.
Located in the former Caddy Shack Lounge space in downtown Cleveland's historic Gateway district, Nexus will house a 140-seat venue space, which will feature local musicians, artists, business speakers and a variety of other community-enrichment functions. A large conference room will also be available for business meetings and other occasions.
