Service

Board Spotlight: Leigh Ann Simms

Leigh Ann has spent nearly 30 years as a Healthcare Consultant in Columbus. She and her husband founded the in 2016 because they believed bartenders deserved to be recognized for what they actually are — skilled, creative professionals.

She's volunteered with Goodwill Columbus, ran afterschool programs at The Hardy Center in North Linden, and was sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children through CASA of Franklin County in 2020.

The through-line isn't hard to find. Leigh Ann is drawn to work that dignifies people.
She joined the Service! board because of what Sang, Matthew, and Letha built during Covid — showing up for hospitality workers when the industry collapsed. "Service! is by the people, for the people," she says. "Full stop."

We're grateful to have her in our corner as The Line gets ready to open. Leigh Ann is, undoubtedly, one our most passionate board members.

Invest in people → www.givebutter.com/servicerelief

Nobody talks about the menus. Or the uniforms. Or the smallwares order that has to be right the first time because there's no room to get it wrong six weeks out.

But here's what I know: none of this happens alone.
is building the space. designed it. made it feel like somewhere worth walking into. is giving The Line its visual identity. And is making sure the world actually sees it.

The finishing touches are going in right now at 145 N. Grant. The construction crew is counting down. is testing dishes. And the stuff nobody thinks about — the details that make a restaurant actually run — those are all coming together too.
We are so close.

There's $100,000 left to raise before The Line opens its doors in late July. If you've been waiting for a moment to be part of this — this is it.
Link in bio → www.givebutter.com/servicerelief

A lot of you have been asking how to support The Line on a personal level. Here’s how.

We’re $100,000 away from finishing construction and opening the doors to our first class of trainees. $2.72 million is already committed. This is the last gap.

Give what you can. And check with your employer — many companies match charitable donations, which means your gift goes twice as far.

The Line — Workforce Training for Hospitality Workers We're $100K away from opening The Line — a culinary training center for Columbus hospitality workers. Construction is underway. Help us finish it.

The Line is hiring. And this isn't your average job post.

We're building a full-service restaurant and advanced hospitality training hub at 145 N. Grant Ave in Downtown Columbus. That means the people we hire aren't just running a restaurant — they're shaping what comes after them.

We're looking for:
🔪 Sous Chefs
🍰 Pastry Chef
🏠 General Manager
👥 AGM
🍷 Beverage Director
🍸 Lead Servers & Bartenders

If you want to mentor the next generation of hospitality professionals while doing the best work of your career — this is it.

This job is hard. This work is real. And it matters.
Apply at [email protected]

Board Spotlight ✨

Meet Cara Laviola — a marketing and growth strategist who believes hospitality is at the center of our lives and communities.

“The restaurant industry is the backbone of the American economy… Restaurants service the most important moments of our lives.”

Through her work supporting restaurants with technology and growth solutions, Cara has developed an even deeper appreciation for the people behind hospitality and what it truly takes to run a successful restaurant. She’s passionate about making sure hospitality careers are recognized with the same respect and opportunity as any other professional path.

As we move toward opening The Line, Cara is excited for people to experience the mission of Service! in action — a space where hospitality professionals can grow their careers while guests experience thoughtful, high-quality food and service.

Fun fact: Cara had her first Negroni at The Rossi in 2014 and has been evangelizing the cocktail ever since. 🍸

We’re grateful for Cara’s leadership, insight, and commitment to building a stronger hospitality community in Central Ohio. ❤️

Chef and owner Garrett Talmage spent the last four months rebuilding after a van crashed through the front of his Italian Village restaurant in January. Less than a year after opening. Named one of Columbus Monthly's Best New Restaurants. Then — a van.

He said it best: "We'll rebuild, reset, and come back stronger."
They did. Now it's our turn to show up.

Head to mezclacocina.com for reservations. Walk-ins welcome at the bar.

📍 1022 Summit St., Italian Village

How many hospitality workers have been told they're "not a good fit" when nobody ever actually invested in their growth?

We think differently about that.

🔗 Link in bio to learn more about our programs.

Did you know independent restaurants return nearly twice as much of every dollar spent back into the local economy compared to chain restaurants?

Half of Columbus' restaurants are independently owned.
Those restaurants put nearly 79 cents of every dollar back into this community — compared to 30 cents from a chain.

When you eat local, you're not just eating better. You're keeping Columbus working.
That's why we fight for the people who make it happen.

Support local. Support Service!

New Windows. New Murals. New Intentions.