When Everytable opened its first location in South LA last year, the healthy grab-and-go café made waves for announcing that its prices would vary by ZIP code. Any other resto would've been blasted for the move, but the socially-conscious eatery's business model earned praises for its mission to offer wholesome grub in underserved food deserts.
Now, the LA-based chain is rolling out three more locations this year, starting with Crenshaw Plaza in Baldwin Hills (where meals start at $4), which officially opens this Saturday. Next up will be at Downtown's TheBloc and Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, both of which will offer plates starting at $8.
Co-founded by CEO Sam Polk (who also founded the nonprofit org Groceryships) and former private equity executive David Foster, Everytable recently tapped chef Jessica Spear to head the kitchen and whip up locally-inspired seasonal fare. Expect to find gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options alongside meat dishes: think kale chicken caesar salad, spicy Mexi-Cali bowls, and Yucatan chili; for kids, there's the classic spaghetti and meatballs, cheese pizza, and more. Plus, everything's made without preservatives, additives, and artificial flavorings.
In addition, the team plans on bringing Groceryships locations wherever Everytable opens its doors to continue helping low-income families eat healthier and eliminate food-related illnesses like obesity and diabetes.
In fact, Polk tells us that the Everytable concept was "inspired by the moms of Groceryships. We kept hearing from moms in the program that between taking care of their kids and working multiple jobs, they simply didn't have time to cook." That meant many mothers still ended up in the drive-thru lanes, where heart-clogging bites were cheap and easy to pick up on the go.
"We [realized that we] could create a healthy but affordable alternative for these families. So, [David and] I began working on a business model that uses a central kitchen and small grab-and-go storefronts to keep costs low, meaning we can offer wholesome meals for less," Polk says. "We recognized that the needs of each community are so different, so we thought, why not build a model where everyone can access the same meals at a price that makes sense for them?"
Foster explains that sliding menu pricing is "built to scale," allowing the company to "expand our presence nationwide in order to truly make healthy food accessible for all." That's in addition to the goal of opening Everytable in every LA nabe in the next five years, he tells us.
Wanna welcome Everytable to Baldwin Hills this Saturday? The festivities kick off when the store opens at 11am. Swing by for free meals until 8pm; plus, Tavis Smiley and Everytable's team will be on hand at noon. There'll also be a DJ, raffles, and kids activities; get all of the details over on the event's Facebook page.
Everytable, 3650 West Martin Luther King Blvd., Baldwin Hills, 90008; Monday to Saturday from 11am to 8pm, and Sunday: 11am to 7pm; 323-296-0311
