INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis today announced a community-focused partnership with Tea’s Me Café and Real Taste Catering that promises to bring new life and enhanced food offerings to their campus and the local community.
The partnership was officially revealed at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Ivy Tech Indianapolis and included remarks from the owner of Tea’s Me Café, Tamika Catchings, owner of Real Taste Catering, Mark Webster, and Chancellor of Ivy Tech Indianapolis, Dr. Lorenzo L Esters.
“Our goal is to provide a local destination for our community to come together … to gather, eat, and engage with one another, and we are doing that through expanded and improved food service options and hours,” said Esters. “We want our students and employees, as well as our neighbors, to be able to stop by and grab a bite to eat with friends and family. We want our neighbors to have a communal meeting space for their organizations. We want Ivy Tech Indianapolis to truly be considered a community neighbor and partner.”
– Ivy Tech Indianapolis, Dr. Lorenzo Esters
Last fall, Indianapolis campus leadership began exploring new service providers for their food court, presenting a unique opportunity to think differently about how the College can better serve its staff, faculty, and students, in addition to its neighbors. With their Indianapolis location (at the intersection of Meridian Street and Fall Creek Parkway) being in a food desert, campus leaders quickly responded by collaborating with food service partners that shared their vision of elevating the Indianapolis community.
“I am passionate about young people, our future, and our future leaders, and believe that a lot of them will come from the Ivy Indy campus,” said Tamika Catchings, owner, of Tea’s Me Café, 4x Olympic Gold Medalist, Hall of Famer, and founder of the Catch the Stars Foundation. “Tea’s Me Café is working collaboratively with Ivy Tech Indianapolis’ staff and faculty to provide opportunities to employ students and partner with their amazing Culinary Arts Program on some initiatives in the future. For me, it’s all about the student experience and providing opportunities for the younger generation.”
– Tamika Catchings, owner, of Tea’s Me Café, 4x Olympic Gold Medalist, Hall of Famer, and founder of the Catch the Stars Foundation
“I take great pride in providing quality food to my customers. For over 25 years, Real Taste Catering has been honored to serve the Indianapolis community, and I can’t think of a better way for us to immerse ourselves even further than right in the heart of it all—Ivy Tech Indianapolis. We look forward to being a part of the Ivy Indy Family because we believe in 'Working Together Works.'”
– Mark Webster, owner, of Real Taste Catering and lifelong Indianapolis resident
About Real Taste Catering
For over 25 years, Real Taste Catering (RTC) has served the Indianapolis Community offering catering services for on-site or off-site catering- weddings, birthday parties, church events, schools, family reunions, corporate events, company picnics, and other large-scale events. They also offer a variety of food service management services working with a variety of organizations such as cafeterias, corporate contracts, Indiana Black Expo, and Circle City Classic, and RTC provides student meals under the guidelines of USDA School Lunch Programs and has provided school food service for over 19 years to local schools and daycare centers. For more information, visit www.realtastecatering.com. Follow Real Taste Catering on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Real Taste Catering Food Court Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
About Tea’s Me Café
Tea’s Me Café is a local favorite, awarded the Best of Indianapolis, Best Tea House in 2020. They specialize in providing the best loose-leaf tea sourced from all over the world. Guests enjoy a variety of healthy loose-leaf teas, great food, and a classy ambiance. Tamika Catchings, 4x Olympic Gold Medalist, Hall of Famer, and founder of the Catch the Stars Foundation, purchased Tea’s Me Cafe in 2017 when she found out the original owners were planning to close the business. As a community advocate, the Café’s goal is to not only serve the community food and beverages but also to provide additional programming and events. The Café now has three locations: downtown Indianapolis, Butler Tarkington, and Ivy Tech Indianapolis. For more information, visit www.teasmeindy.com. Follow Tea’s Me Café on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn for the most up-to-date information. Tea’s Me Cafe Food Court Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana and out of state for a more affordable route to a bachelor’s degree. Ivy Tech Indianapolis is the College’s largest service area, serving more than 28,000 students each year in Marion, Boone, and Hendricks counties. For more information about this location, visit www.IvyTech.edu/Indianapolis. Follow Ivy Tech on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn for the most up-to-date information.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
