NEW CASTLE, Del. – The new operators of the New Castle County Government Center café, Mac’s Snacks and J&J Corporate Café, and County Executive Tom Gordon held grand opening Monday, September 21 in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Delaware Division for the Visually Impaired Director Dan Madrid and the Division's director of the Business Enterprise Program, Rob Schmidlkofer, joined County Executive Gordon, Chief of Administrative Services Tonney Gardner, Mac's Snacks proprietor Tony Maczynski, and Ulysses James of J&J Corporate Café for the grand opening. Director of Communications Antonio Prado served as the master of ceremonies.
Director Madrid thanked County Executive Gordon for allowing this partnership between the Delaware Division for the Visually Impaired and the County to happen.
Mr. Schimdlkofer said this was the first venture by the Division for the Visually Impaired in a New Castle County facility.
"This actually is one of the best things that has ever happened to us since I've been working with the program," he said. "I really have to thank you for that because we haven't really had this opportunity in at least 12 to 15 years. This is hopefully something that will reach other counties and other parts of state government."
Councilman Joseph Reda, Chief of Staff James D. McDonald, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Samuel Guy,and Chief of Human Resources Christine Dunning were among the dignitaries at the grand opening.
The grand opening followed the soft opening a week earlier. Since that time, several New Castle County employees have been impressed with the Café's wares.
The Café is open to the general public as well.
Please watch the NCCTV film on this event at the following YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QfsPzdGORY
ORIGINAL RELEASE
The new operators of the New Castle County Government Center café, Mac’s Snacks and J&J Corporate Café, and County Executive Tom Gordon are scheduled to hold a grand opening at noon Monday, September 21.
“We’re optimistic with the opening of the new café,” County Executive Gordon said. “The menu looks good, and it gives our employees a convenient place to buy healthy, fresh food. In addition, this new partnership we have with the Delaware Division for the Visually Impaired is a beautiful way to reopen the café.”
Mac’s Snacks Proprietor Anthony Maczynski is a blind operator with the Delaware Division for the Visually Impaired Business Enterprise Program. Mr. Maczynski said the joint venture would be a win in a number of ways.
“For the Division for the Visually Impaired, their expressed goal is to provide all the assets and tools necessary for a blind or visually impaired entrepreneur to be productive and own a business,” Mr. Maczynski said. “In this case, that’s my baby. It’s a win for me; it’s a win for the disabled community. It’s also employment. It’s good for the economy. It’s good for the people.
“It’s also a win for New Castle County Government. We all know that governments have to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act and, in this case, thanks to Executive Gordon, it’s happening,” he added. “I want to express my gratitude to him and all of his staff for that.”
Rob Schmidlkofer, director of Delaware’s Business Enterprise Program, helps blind entrepreneurs open up businesses. He said this was the first time the Division for the Visually impaired would open a business in a New Castle County facility.
J&J Corporate Café, headed by Ulysses James, was contracted by Mac’s Snacks to run the daily operations at the café.
The café is on the second floor of the New Castle County Government Center at 87 Reads Way, New Castle DE 19720.
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