In a world of texting, instant messaging and emailing, Corner Bakery Café recently introduced a neighborhood initiative called “Connect at the Corner,” which includes a Facebook application that encourages guests to rekindle the lost art of face-to-face conversation and reconnect with friends and family over a free cup of one of its hand-roasted coffees.

Through April 26, Corner Bakery Cafe offered two free cups of hand-roasted coffee to Facebook fans who invite a friend to Connect at the Corner. Using the new “Connect” tab on the Corner Bakery Café Facebook page, customers can set a date and time to catch up with a friend, create an event invite and print out a personalized offer good for two free cups of hand-roasted coffee, one each for the fan and Facebook friend of choice.

“In today’s age, with iPhones, Blackberries and laptops at our eager fingertips, making time for meaningful conversation among friends and loved ones can feel more challenging than ever,” says Jim Vinz, Corner Bakery Cafe’s president and chief operating officer. “Our Connect at the Corner program is all about connecting with the people that matter most and making time for one another. The program gives friends and family an opportunity to catch up and it also allows us the chance to connect with our guests in the communities we serve.”

Corner Bakery Cafe managers have been getting involved in their respective communities and inviting neighbors to reconnect with one another. Attending countless community events from little league soccer games and parent-teacher nights to city festivals, Corner Bakery Cafe team members have been handing out free travel mugs, as a simple reminder to reach out and make time for neighbors. Each recipient receives two mugs and is encouraged to provide one mug to a neighbor as an invitation to reconnect over coffee. Upon bringing the mugs into a Corner Bakery Cafe, each neighbor is invited to enjoy complimentary coffee.

Known for its innovative menu featuring a wide variety of egg scramblers and oatmeals for breakfast, flavorful sandwiches and signature panini, hot soups, signature salads, fresh baked goods and an extensive catering menu, Corner Bakery Cafe serves guests nationwide with fresh, made-to-order meals in a welcoming and cozy atmosphere for more than 18 years.

With more than 50 handcrafted menu items under $7, Corner Bakery Cafe offers customers both variety and value, and guests can stay connected with free Wi-Fi while enjoying a bottomless cup of one of their signature hand-roasted coffees.

From a small bread bakery on a corner in downtown Chicago to a national cornerstone of fast casual dining, Corner Bakery Cafe is a fast casual restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to guests in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Jackson, Miss., Los Angeles/Orange County, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego, and Washington D.C.  Established in 1991, Corner Bakery Cafe restaurants are owned and operated by CBC Restaurant Corp. with more than 115 company-owned and franchised locations around the country.