Near East Cafe to open inside new Ohio State community health center

There's more than just smoothie bowls, breakfast sandwiches, turkey burgers and veggie wraps on the menu at a new restaurant on the Near East Side.

Near East Cafe , inside the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center's new Healthy Community Center at 1600 E. Long St., also has a mission of improving food access, nutrition and social connections for the people who dine there.

After a two-week soft-opening run, the cafe will celebrate its opening officially Friday and plans monthly parties on the fourth Friday of every month going forward.

The entire center, a $5.1 million project that converted the former Columbus Metropolitan Library Martin Luther King Jr. Branch, opened in May as a home for health screenings, wellness classes, exercise workshops and other programs for Near East Side neighbors.

Near East Cafe is a venture of Food Leads , a program that helps Black residents of Columbus manage Type 2 diabetes through improved nutrition, and Too Good Eats , a Columbus maker of artisan drinks and frozen pops.

Food News: Graeter's and Swensons share special treats; Katalina's and King Gyros meet Guy Fieri

The partners have pledged to use at least half the cafe's profits to expand food access and improve nutrition in central Ohio.

rvitale@dispatch.com

Instagram: @dispatchdining

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Near East Cafe to open inside new Ohio State community health center