The Blooming Bistro to Celebrate Grand Opening
with Community Fair and Ribbon Cutting
The Blooming Bistro, a restaurant that serves as a wellness and workforce training hub for disconnected and at-risk youth in Las Vegas, will celebrate its grand opening with a community resource fair and ribbon cutting. The event will take place on Thursday, April 10 with special wellness and workforce activations available from community organizations.
The full schedule is as follows:
2-6 p.m. Wellness and Workforce Community Fair
More than 15 organizations will have an educational booth at the fair including: Anthem Health Plan Value Options; EMPOWERED Program; Goodwill of Southern Nevada; The Just One Project; NAMI Southern Nevada; Nevada Homeless Alliance; Nevada Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs); Molina HealthCare; Toni’s House; State of Nevada, Targeted Outreach Program (TOP), under the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services; Shine A Light; Silver Summit Health Plan; UnitedHealthcare Health Plan of Nevada Medicaid; Connext Workforce USA; Employ NV Career Hub; Employ NV Youth Hub; There is No Hero in Heroin (TINHI); Thrive Solutions; and St. Jude’s Ranch for Children.
3-4 p.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
A highlight of the ribbon-cutting ceremony will be hearing stories from participants of The Blooming Bistro program as they share their experiences with this life-changing opportunity. Additionally, the ribbon cutting will include several guest speakers who were instrumental in the launch and success of The Blooming Bistro including: City of Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley; Ward 1 Councilman Brian Knudsen; Mark Steele of Restaurant Hospitality Institute; Cecil Fielder with Workforce Connections; and representatives from Governor Joe Lombardo’s Office, the Division of Public and Behavioral Health, and Mission High School.
4:30-5:30 p.m. Overdose Education Event with Nevada Opioid Center of Excellence
Nevada Opioid Center of Excellence will host an Overdose Education session on recognizing and responding to opioid overdoses. This session offers a valuable opportunity to learn lifesaving skills and connect with others dedicated to enhancing community health and safety. Attendees will receive free naloxone.
The Blooming Bistro is a passion project for Samantha Steele, who is a person in long-term recovery herself, “We believe that awareness, education, and the right support can transform lives,” Steele said. “Our programs focus on culinary and workforce training, substance use prevention, mental health education, suicide prevention, and whole-self wellness that empowers our employees to build their career paths and ultimately their lives.”
The Steele family has more than a century of combined experience in the hospitality industry dating back to Samantha’s great-grandfather who was a brew master at the Guinness factory in Ireland. Her parents owned The Aristocrat, a popular dining spot which was located just steps away from where The Blooming Bistro sits now.
Her brother, Mark Steele is a renowned hospitality expert providing training around the world. Through his company, Restaurant Hospitality Institute, Mark Steele provides the hospitality training to employees of The Blooming Bistro.
“I’ve been in the hospitality industry for my entire life, but this project is near and dear to my heart,” said Mark Steele. “I am proud to have the opportunity to partner with my sister and continue our family legacy. By combining the missions of Restaurant Hospitality Institute and The Blooming Bistro we are using our hospitality expertise to provide a service that benefits youth and our community.”
About The Blooming Bistro
The Blooming Bistro is more than just a restaurant. It is an organization dedicated to empowering young individuals facing significant life challenges, including those aging out of child welfare, in recovery from substance use disorders, involved in the juvenile justice system, or experiencing homelessness. Through evidence-based training and social-emotional learning, they provide the tools needed to build sustainable futures.
The organization partners with Restaurant Hospitality Institute, which is licensed to operate by the State of Nevada’s Commission of Postsecondary Education, to provide essential training in all aspects of restaurant service. These skills are then honed in a real world setting working at The Blooming Bistro. Students who graduate from the program are battle-tested and ready to thrive with a career in hospitality, with a resume under their belt.
With Chef Calvin Shiflet at the helm of the kitchen, the restaurant serves up healthy-eating, vegetable-forward dishes such as salads and bowls with meat optional add-ons as well as burgers and sandwiches. The Blooming Bistro is open Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The Blooming Bistro | 860 S. Rancho Dr. #6, Las Vegas, NV 89106 | 702.426.4047
thebloomingbistro.com | Instagram: @thebloomingbistro89106 | Facebook: The Blooming Bistro