Steamers Coffeehouse and Jack’s Bar and Grill, 8565 Five Parks Drive, Suite 100, has been named one of five finalists in the Tundra Restaurant Supply Dreamstaurant Contest.

For the past three months, Tundra Restaurant Supply has gathered ideas for dream restaurants from around the country, offering a $40,000 grand prize restaurant package.

Over the last two weeks, people from across the nation voted socially through the supply company’s Facebook page for their favorite restaurant idea.
With a week to go in the voting, Steamer’s owner, Athan Miller, is excited about the possibilities the contest brings.

“We’re trying to open up a prep kitchen across the street, and restaurant supplies add up quickly,” Miller said. “To be able to use a free $40,000 to help gain those supplies, it will be very beneficial; it’s great.”

Steamers Coffeehouse opened around 6 years ago in a small, 300 square-foot space in Five Parks. Miller began the company with partner, Scott Parker, with a mission to employ those with developmental disabilities.

“What we really want to do is open a prep kitchen where we can train people with developmental disabilities to work in a kitchen,” Miller said.

Due to an increase in customers and available retail space, Miller moved the business into a larger space, and began a joint coffeehouse-restaurant, Jack’s Bar and Grill, with Miller’s husband Jack. The café-restaurant now employs 80 individuals, 40 of whom have developmental disabilities.

Construction of the prep kitchen is currently under way, and should they win Tundra’s Dreamstaurant competition, they will be able to train and employ 20-30 more developmentally disabled adults in their new facility.
“We really want all kinds of people to receive proper training so they can go, and get a job,” Miller said. “We feel really strongly everyone deserves a chance to be employed.”

To cast your vote, visit Tundra’s Facebook page, and vote for Steamers Coffeehouse, Jack’s Bar and Grill. Votes can be cast once in a 24-hour period, but individuals can vote more than once.

“All of these different people are stepping up to help us make a bigger difference, it’s really cool,” Jack said.