Om Café Seeks New Owner, To Close in the Meantime
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Sept. 19, 2014)
Om Café owner Jason Thibodeau announced this week that he is looking for someone to purchase the Ferndale-based restaurant on Woodward Avenue. The Café began over 25 years ago with Thibodeau’s mother Colleen Smiley. “She was a pioneer of her time in a meat and potato country, waging a war of vegetables against meat, antibiotics, growth hormones and processed food. She and the Om have always celebrated organic food and the heroism of local farmers,” describes the restaurant’s website. There are many vegetarian, vegan and raw items available, including Quinoa Protein Salad, Cremini Burger, Buddisht Priest Stir-fry, Miso Vegetable Soup, and BBQ Seitan Sliders. With the right owner, Thibodeau hopes that tradition will continue. In the meantime they will close at the end of September.
In a letter to friends and supporters, he wrote:
“It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter. Our family has carried on the Om torch for nearly thirty years and nothing has giving us more pleasure. The majority of you have literally watched my brother and I grow up or my mother effortlessly whip up a wonderful meal. I have sat down with most of you over a hot coffee to talk about life, the day, or whatever comes to mind. I cherished that. You have all been such an incredible support to our family and we will never forget that.
“Our beloved Manager Jessica and Chef Madu have fallen in love and have decided to sprout their wings and move on toward their next adventure together. As much as we will miss them we are in complete support of them. As most of you may know I started a second Om Café, the Parlor and now the Raw Juice Co. in Traverse City. Things are taking off and have completely consumed my time and me. I am no longer in a position to be able to do it all. For this reason we are selling the Ferndale business.
“In 2011, we were looking to sell the business (not the building). We had many interested parties but before we made a deal happen, I decided to get back involved. Today my hope is that one of our valued customers keeps the torch burning. In hopes of a swift transition with as little disruption to our wonderful customers and our beloved staff, we are asking for half of what we are told it is worth. If you are a serious interested party and would like more information or details please contact me directly at (805) 705-0686 or at Jason@omcafe.com.
“The café is doing the best it has ever done in its life and we just need someone to continue to love it. We hope that person is you! Madu and Jessica’s last day will be the end of September. If the right person does not step up we will be closing until we find the right person.”
Learn more at http://omcafe.com/.