( Trigger Warning: this article contains content about drug addiction and overdose.)   

Recently, I went to DV8 Kitchen and was pleasantly surprised to learn about their background and what they stand for. DV8 is a second chance employment opportunity for those who have suffered from addiction, have been to prison, or have things on their record that make job opportunities extremely scarce.

I found an article from the New York Times about how DV8 started, and the story behind it.

“ Five years ago, Rob and Diane Perez found a spoon and a ramekin in the trash at a branch of their Saul Good Restaurant & Pub, and realized that their top server was doing heroin in the bathroom. “ ( Sharrett, Luke. New York Times. “ A Restaurant Takes On the Opioid Crisis, One Worker at a Time” )

The article stated that DV8 has lost 13 employees to addictions over 10 years. Most of the cases were related to opioid drugs. “ They were not fired,” Mr. Perez said. “They were dead.” (Sharrett, Luke. New York Times. “ A Restaurant Takes On the Opioid Crisis, One Worker at a Time” )

“A restaurant that not only hires people in treatment for addiction to opioids or other substances, but also focuses its entire business model on recovery, using the restaurant setting as a tool for rehabilitation.“ ( Sharrett, Luke. New York Times. “ A Restaurant Takes On the Opioid Crisis, One Worker at a Time” )

It is incredible what Rob and Diane have done to help change peoples lives for the better. Check out DV8 Kitchen, on 867 S Broadway or 594 E Third St.