Restaurant serves up second chances to juvenile offenders

Author: CBS News
Published:

DALLAS- A unique restaurant is making its debut this week in Texas.

Café Momentum is getting a lot of attention for its gourmet food and for serving up second chances to juvenile offenders.

The tables are set, the food is prepped, but Executive Chef Chad Houser is still nervous.

“This is what a large community of people in Dallas have been working for, for three and a half years,” said Houser.

He isn’t worried that the donated plates don’t match, or that patrons have to pour their own wine. Houser just wants diners at Café Momentum to give his staff a chance.

The 37 teenagers serving food, and creating it, are juvenile offenders. For many, it’s a first paycheck.

“I watched my grandma cook and stuff, and I always wanted to cook, so I thought it would be a good opportunity,” said 18-year-old Aaron Rogers.

“They are so proud. One man said he was going to go buy his momma flowers,” said Houser.

The employees aren’t just servers. They learn all parts of the restaurant business, from cleaning pots and pans, to making pastries.

Rogers spent two years in the justice system on burglary charges. He admits he knew more about the streets, than the kitchen.

“Now, I can see me finally making something of myself and going back to school one day,” said Rogers.

Houser used to hire kids for catering events and saw that almost 90 percent of them stayed out of trouble. Now, he’s hoping to hire 60 teenagers a year.

“It’s about the kids –this is something for them to take pride in, to say ‘I did this,'” said Houser.

For kids like Rogers, the program could be a recipe for success.

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