Essence of Thyme Café is one of a kind

There is a new cafe on Broadway that is unique in more ways than just ambiance and food.

The Essence of Thyme Café is located in a landmark building on the corner of Congress Ave. and Broadway that was in its prior existence home to a major retail furniture store, Bloomberg Furniture.

This building, like many of the buildings that you see as you walk or drive down Broadway from Bellingham Square to Everett Avenue, was built after the Chelsea Fire of 1908.

While almost all of these buildings were primarily built to house retail space for the early 20th century, today many of these buildings have been re-adapted for a new use for the 21st century.

In 2008, the building, almost half a city block was turned into a multi use space by the local agency, TILL.

TILL, short for Toward Independent Living and Learning, has been operating on Broadway for more than 25 years just a half a block away from their new location.

In this building are 23 affordable housing units, a day rehabilitation program for people with developmental delays and a unique café.

The Essence of Thyme Café is located on the ground floor of the building at the corner of Congress Avenue and Broadway and is probably one of the most eclectic café settings in the city.

More than 250 meals are served daily from this café.

These meals are either eaten at the café or are delivered to local businesses as part of their catering business.

What makes this café unique beyond its setting is that people with learning disabilities are employed to learn the skills that will help lead them into a mainstream job in a restaurant or catering business.

The café is open for breakfast and lunch from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Featured food items include homemade muffins, sandwiches, breakfasts and Seattle’s Best Coffee. Prices for meals are very reasonable.

So come on down and try one of the newer restaurants in Chelsea and according to Cindy Anderson, Director of Employment Services at TILL, “We make darn good sandwiches and breakfasts.”