Zack Bruell's Kafeteria, located on the third floor of 200 Public Square, is the latest to take advantage of the growing trend of chef-owned fast-casual restaurants. These venues manage to feed the masses quality food at reasonable price points, while creating economies of scale for multi-unit operators.

Kafeteria, which opened earlier this month, is an ideal spot to enjoy lunch on a frigid January day. The light-filled atrium, with its attractive gardens and fountains, is restful, and the spacious dining room offers views of downtown from a cozy perch.

Bruell has opened four eateries in the past five years, and this is his seventh restaurant within city limits. At 8,500 square feet, the cafeteria is designed to accommodate not only the 2,400 employees who work in the building, but also diners from across downtown and the city. With lofty ceilings and sleek, modern signage, the cafeteria space is divided into stations featuring a wide range of items.

Nonetheless, Bruell was not at all convinced that opening a cafeteria was a good idea. "I was looking for a space to do weddings and events," he says. "The realtor brought us in and dangled this cafeteria idea and I said, 'No way, that's not what I do, leave me alone.' And here I am."

What ultimately persuaded him was the fact that the building had thousands of employees with no dining options. The space, with its marble and granite walls, also inspired him.

"People inside the building are ecstatic," Bruell says of his reception. "I've opened restaurants where people said thank you, but this is different. They had no food here."

Kafeteria already is serving between 500 and 600 customers per day, and that's only the beginning, says Bruell. Just as he does at all of his new restaurants, Bruell is working the line while working closely with the 30-plus staff members to get the details right. "I don't do mediocre," he says.

Options include soup, salad bar, hot and cold sandwiches made to order, sushi, noodle station, braised dishes and fresh-baked pizzas. There's both a juice bar and an espresso bar. Dishes range from coffee-braised pork and cheese quesadillas to falafel-stuffed pitas and a Reuben-style burger, to name a few. Most items are priced from $6.50 to $9, yet this is no boring corporate cafeteria.

The dining room can accommodate up to 300 guests at breakfast and lunch, and will be used for corporate events, weddings and other functions.

In the long term, 200 Public Square owners Harbor Group International plans to renovate the building's atrium area, where there currently are some empty storefronts. That should bring even more life to this downtown landmark, and Bruell Events, the chef's catering company, plans to utilize that space as well.

200 Public Square, a Class A downtown office building that is just 30 years old, has been overlooked by the city for too long, says Bruell. "People are rediscovering the building, which has a great location," he says. "We've only touched what we're going to do."

Source: Zack Bruell
Writer: Lee Chilcote