Taking care of business: Alternative Businesses in Ontario Breakthrough Spring 2004

At the Centre

Starting with this issue, Breakthrough is shining the spotlight on Alternative Businesses in Ontario. Supported by the Ontario Council of Alternative Businesses (OCAB), an Alternative Business is one that is run by psychiatric Consumer/Survivors, and focuses on training and community building.

Introducing... The Raging Spoon
761 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario M61 1G1
Phone: (416) 504-6128
Fax: (416) 504-4610

What: The Raging Spoon, 761 Queen Street West (just west of Bathurst), a non-profit café and catering business run by psychiatric survivors. Visited by many interested in learning how such a business is run, customers return for the satisfying, plentiful food.

What's Special: The first Alternative Business in Toronto! All decisions, such as hiring and decorating, are made by the staff. Not only does staff receive training, but also an hourly wage that often exceeds minimum wage.

What's Hot: Raging Spoon's Fish and Chips, favoured by locals as the best on Queen West. Don't even try, however, to learn the secret to this popular dish. "It's the batter," is all manager Rose Young will tell you, with a smile.

What's Cool: A hopping summertime patio where you can meet your friends for food straight off the barbeque.

What's Brilliant: Free Internet access by FreeNet. You can grab a hot coffee, pull a chair up to one of two computers provided for customers and check your e-mail while you wait for your lunch.

Great Idea: The large inner room, more like a high-ceiling'd hall, can be rented for wedding receptions. Raging Spoon Catering can easily arrange for a liquor license for the day.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday.

For more information, contact Rose Young, Business Manager of the Raging Spoon, at (416) 504-6128.

Shannon Maunder is a writer who lives in Toronto.