BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Everybody eats. Everybody gives. Everybody matters. That's the motto of the new restaurant coming to Buffalo’s West Side.
“We really want to provide a dignified response to hunger. We want to provide a place where people want to be and they feel like they can give back even if it’s not financially,” said Stephanie Smith, Board President.
It’s a community café at 272 Hudson St. that aims to bring food to everyone. They're making food accessible by using "pay as you can” pricing.
“Some may pay up, some may pay the suggested, some may pay less, but everyone has the same dining experience,” said Smith.
It'll be the first of its kind in New York State.
You can also pay in other ways, by clearing tables or helping out in the kitchen. But if people aren’t paying as much, how will Big Big Table make money?
“We will get contributions for meals and we’ll have very modest operating costs because we’ll have low costs and we’ll do a lot of food rescue," said Smith.
This all started when Mandy Bailey, Founder and Lead Chef, saw food in our area going to waste.
“Lots and lots of hotel pans, thrown away. Why is this not actually feeding human beings?” asked Bailey.
Now she’s using her cooking skills to serve home-style cooking to the Buffalo community members, when they really need it.
"Even in the wake of the pandemic, we know the financial and economic impacts are going to continue to be felt and we want to be a part of providing people with accessible, affordable meals that they can count on,” said Smith.
It’s been a long time coming for Big Big Table. They had to put things on hold because of the pandemic and are now working to catch up.
"We’re still a work in progress, we’re working hard to set up our tables and our dining room and get the kitchen set up," said Smith.
If all goes well, the plan is to have the café open to the community by spring of 2021. In the meantime, they ask the community to support them with donations. Click here, to donate. Click here, for more information.
