Mather’s Dining Experience Creates Demand for 5 th Café In New Community Center
Chicago, IL- March 25, 2005- In addition to its stand-alone Café model, Mather’s— More Than a Café announces its venture to join the Des Plaines Frisbie Senior Center in creating a dining and activity venue for today’s active older adults. Mather’s will be the premier restaurant in the new Des Plaines Center . This expands on Mather’s four other Chicago locations that offer dining, social and cultural engagement. The partnership between the two organizations is due to their shared synergies; both Mather’s and Frisbie’s cutting edge design and vibrant brands cater to a current generation of active adults. Mather’s expansion beyond the all-in-one Café programming concept is based on growing demand for the Mather’s extraordinary dining experience in its current locations across the city.
In keeping with Mather’s mission of providing “Ways to Age Well,” the Des Plaines Senior Center is redeveloping the Cumberland Commons shopping facility to create a community experience geared toward the needs and wants of older adults. Replacing an aging Jewell-Osco grocery store, the mall will feature a bakery, a resale shop, a bank, a dry cleaner, a hairdresser and barbershop, and medical offices. “The Des Plaines Senior Center has always sought unique ways of serving seniors, and we approached the development of our new Frisbie Senior Center with this same forward-looking philosophy. The Café concept fits perfectly with our members’ active attitudes and because we have shared service values. A partnership with Mather’s—More Than a Café is another creative way to meet our mission,” says Sharon Smith, Executive Director of the Des Plaines Senior Center .
“Mather’s—More Than a Café has been a very successful concept that adults have enjoyed over the past four years. The full menu and high-caliber cuisine is enjoyed by all who visit Mather’s, a creative dining experience that continues to grow as a favorite restaurant throughout Chicagoland,” adds Carla Windhorst, Mather LifeWays Vice President of Community Initiatives. Windhorst continues “Mather’s is always seeking to serve its community- as such, in partnership with the State, Mather’s will also be the Center’s congregate meal provider, serving 40 balanced meals a day from their diverse menu.”
About the Des Plaines Senior Center :
Established in 1975, the Des Plaines Senior Center offers over 55 different programs and services monthly and serves over 10,000 individuals annually. The Des Plaines Senior Center strives to promote, active, self-reliant living and fun for people over 55 through volunteerism, and socially, intellectually, and physically enriching programs. The Center is proud to unveil its new Frisbie Senior Center and further aims to assist older adults in the Des Plaines area maintain their quality of life, live independently, and remain active members of society.
About Mather’s—More Than a Café:
The success of Mather’s stems from a truly innovative community concept: allowing older adults living at home to convene, socialize and stay connected to the community in a trendy, modern and unique place. The success of the concept has led to the creation of four Cafés in the Chicago neighborhoods of Galewood/Montclare, Norwood Park , Portage/Cragin and Chattham. Mather’s plays a vibrant role in each of these neighborhoods, hosting workshops, seminars, and speakers. Governor Blagojevich often speaks at Mather’s across the city on issues relevant to older adults, including barriers to obtaining reasonably-priced prescription drugs.
Offering over 1,000 classes a quarter, social and fitness programs, dining, and cultural seminars available to the community, Mather’s not only connects older adults with similar interests, they often spark friendships and relationships. In 2004, 11,340 customers visited the Cafés, and, like the Cafés, the numbers are growing.
The Des Plaines Frisbie Senior Center opens its doors to the community Sunday, April 3 rd from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. for its Grand Opening at Cumberland Commons, 52 East Northwest Highway , Des Plaines , IL .
Who is Mather LifeWays?
Mather LifeWays is a 50+-year-old, not-for-profit organization committed to helping older adults age well. Mather LifeWays demonstrates its commitment to promoting the vitality and well-being of older adults by providing a variety of experiences and services to meet this diverse group’s lifestyle preferences. These offerings include senior residences, research and education and community programs. Mather LifeWays’ senior residences offer choices and flexibility, from independent living to assisted living and skilled care. The Institute on Aging plays a leading role in enhancing the lives of older adults in today’s society through numerous collaborative and applied research and education projects. Mather LifeWays’ Community Initiatives programs, including the successful Mather’s – More Than a Café concept, enable Mather LifeWays to act as a point of contact for older adults who seek access to community resources. These accomplishments, and more, make Mather LifeWays unique in its goal to advance the possibilities for a lifetime of Ways to Age Well. The organization is based in Evanston , Ill. More information is available at www.matherlifeways.com .
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