Homemade Cafe

The Homemade Cafe is a breakfast and lunch restaurant in Berkeley, California which gained national attention for its "Everybody Eats" program.

Homemade Cafe
Restaurant information
Head chefCollin Doran
Street address2454 Sacramento Street
CityBerkeley
CountyAlameda County
StateCalifornia
Postal/ZIP Code94702
CountryUnited States
Coordinates37°51′44.1678″N 122°16′53.1726″W
Websitehomemade-cafe.com

History

Norm Berzon and Janet Hinze opened the Homemade Cafe at 2454 Sacramento Street in Berkeley in 1979.[1] Described by food writer Janet Fletcher as "down home and funky",[2] it celebrated its 20th anniversary in November 1999.[1] That same year, Collin Doran, who grew up eating at the diner as a child, became an employee, and in 2011, he purchased the business from the owners.[3]

In 2018, the Homemade Cafe began hosting pop-up dinners in addition to its regular breakfast and lunch service.[4] The restaurant had 15 employees in May 2023.[3]

"Everybody Eats" program

Inspired by the People's Free Food Program, Doran, soon after taking ownership, began offering a free hot breakfast to anyone in need. After serving thousands of free meals, in 2023 the restaurant made its "Everybody Eats" program official.

For five dollars, customers can purchase a ticket which is posted on a bulletin board outside, which anyone who is hungry can redeem for a free two-egg breakfast with potatoes, toast, and coffee. "But on days when we run out of tickets, we keep serving free meals anyway," Doran told The Washington Post, adding, “Nobody should go hungry. This is the right thing to do."[3][5]

References
  1. Zoloth, Joan. "Oakland Tribune 29 Oct 1999, page 58". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  2. Fletcher, Janet (June 10, 1988). "Down Home in Emeryville". Newspapers.com. Oakland Tribune. p. 15. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  3. Free, Cathy (May 6, 2023). "When cafe owner sees panhandlers, he does not oust them, he feeds them". Washington Post.
  4. Westerman, Kim. "Homemade Café, Bay Area Breakfast Institution, Now Offers Monthly Pop-Up Dinners". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  5. Hod, Itay (April 28, 2023). "Berkeley diner provides free meals to anyone who's hungry, no questions asked". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
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