Corporate HQ in historic building unites more than its own company

Toledo, Ohio’s historic Steam Plant building, which was built in 1896 by the same architectural firm that designed New York’s iconic Flatiron building, has sat empty for the last 30 years. Last August, ProMedica, a healthcare network of specialized hospitals, facilities, researchers and doctors, moved into the space as well as into two neighboring buildings in downtown Toledo. In doing so, they consolidated 20 different buildings of employees and support staff from all over Northwest Ohio into a bustling corporate center. In addition, they are also using foodservice to unite their workforce while revitalizing Toledo.

As part of their corporate headquarters, ProMedica and its food management company Sodexo opened an employee-only dining facility called The Steam Plant Café. The 6,000-square-foot space with seating for 150 is surrounded by the brick and steel of the original late 19th century architecture. One wall was in such a state of disrepair, however, that it was replaced by floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase views of Toledo’s Maumee River.

From left: chicken tikka masala with basmati rice; butternut squash ravioli with pesto sauce and toasted pecans; and grilled pork belly on steamed bao bun with roasted vegetables.

The Steam Plant Café is open for breakfast and lunch, and features five food stations. There is a Pizza Station using housemade dough with made-to-order varieties such as chipotle chicken and ranch pizza and vegetable pizza. The Panini Station features pressed sandwiches such as Arizona turkey pita and Mediterranean chicken wrap. The action station features daily themes such as Burrito Gusto, Marinara, Spuds and the Carvery, and the coffee station uses a local coffee company that employs special needs adults and teenagers. The 550 calories or less salad bar, which Tim Melroy, general manager, nutrition services, says is the most popular station, features ingredients such as fresh-roasted beets, shrimp, salmon as well as housemade dressing.

Using local vendors is key at the café, according to Melroy. They get their pastries from a baker right across the river, the dairy is local and they use a produce company right around the corner that sources as much as possible from within 120 miles.

The Steam Plant Café has also partnered with over a dozen local restaurants that feature one of their signature dishes in the action station on select Wednesdays. “There’s about 80 restaurants in downtown Toledo,” says Melroy. “This is a chance for them to get exposure with our 1,000 employees – some even hand out gift cards.”

They’re recently welcomed gastropubs, sushi restaurants and even a local donut maker famous for its maple bacon glazed donuts. Melroy says due to word-of-mouth success with the program, restaurants are now reaching out to the café to be included. “Many of our guests said they’ve never even heard of these restaurants even though they are located right next door downtown,” says Melroy. “It’s definitely working to grow awareness about the vibrant regional restaurant scene.”

Melroy notes that such partnerships stem from ProMedica’s CEO’s desire for the company to be a key anchor institution in the region and help reinvest in the downtown scene. To that end, ProMedica wanted to partner with a local food business to host their first express/corporate site in their Junction building, which is adjacent to The Steam Plant. After meeting with several candidates, Sodexo and ProMedica chose Barry Bagels, which now has a 1,200-square-foot space that features New York deli-style sandwiches and is also open to the public as well as ProMedica staff.

Cheesy grits with grilled BBQ shrimp (left) and a loaded sweet potato.

Employees can also use ProMedica’s desktop ordering system called CaterTrax to order food from most stations in the café, select what time they will pick it up, and pay via credit card or payroll deduction. Between The Steam Plant Café and Barry Bagels, they do about 400 transactions a day with an average check size of $5 or $6, respectively.

In addition to Barry Bagels and the café, ProMedica also owns and operates Market on the Green, a grocery store that sells healthy food in a designated food desert just six blocks away from the corporate headquarters and features Made in Ohio products such as granola, beef jerky and salad dressing.

“Our mission is to improve community health,” says Melroy. “And part of that is having a vibrant downtown.”