At Mychal’s Café in Redondo Beach, a Sweet Treat Does More than Hit the Spot

“I hope she can work here one day,” she said to Ed. Mychal’s, located on Artesia Boulevard in Redondo Beach, offers coffee, breakfast and lunch and is a training program for people with developmental disabilities.

“That’s what this is all about. It’s creating awareness of what society has told them their limitations are. We don’t do that here. This restaurant is run as a for-profit. It can’t be a novelty approach,” shares Ed.

It’s important at Mychal’s Café, and at other locations under the Mychal’s Learning Place umbrella, that each employee walks away with a skill set. The café currently has four full-time employees, two trainees and four support staff.

Each person has their own specialty. Walk in on a given day, and you’ll find Elsie at the register or making coffee and tea drinks. Dino is in the back making paninis, and Kate is there too making egg dishes.

“All of the people I work with are so nice. When I work the register, I like saying hi to all of the guests and they are very nice to me,” says Elsie. “At first it was a lot, but over time I’ve learned and can do so much more now. My favorite drink to make is our raspberry lemonade iced tea.”

Kate’s ability to make great egg dishes has become quite the hit on Instagram. More than 5 million people have watched a video of her making fluffy scrambled eggs and cappuccinos. Another video of her learning how to make American- and French-style omelets with renowned South Bay chef and restaurateur David LeFevre has over 350,000 views.

“I love working here, and the fluffy scrambled eggs are amazing,” says Kate. “It is a magical experience. When we get a lot of orders, though, we are able to do it. Doing everything one step at a time helps.”

Most of Mychal’s Café employees have either Down syndrome or autism. Studies show that the unemployment rate for those with developmental disabilities is four times higher than those in the general population. That’s why Mychal’s Learning Place began launching its social enterprises, including their cafés.

Here, young adults have an opportunity to overcome learning barriers and acquire job skills that empower them to succeed. Local chefs like LeFevre, David Slay and Mike Simms have been incredibly helpful and enthusiastic about helping the café and potentially collaborating in the future.

“The idea of breaking the stereotype is everything that we do and focus on,” says Ed. “People tend to have preconceived notions about what people can and can’t do. It’s showing people when they come in that they can do it.”

It was a quick turnaround time from when Ed got the keys for the location to when Mychal’s opened. While the location had previously been a restaurant, the team started from scratch in December 2023.

“They have self-esteem, confidence and pride in what they do. When they give you your food, they’ve made it. Their parents even talk about seeing the changes in their kids and how they have a sense of purpose,” says Ed.

When deciding on what the restaurant would look like and what the menu would be, Ed leaned on his wife and other employees—knowing they understood the South Bay vibe. They decided on a California ambience with light and bright colors, wood tables, wooden art fixtures and artwork on the walls made by students in the program.

Another section of the eatery is dedicated to Ed’s daughter, for whom the café is named. Dealing with developmental and physical disabilities, she passed away at the age of 7 in 1996.

“My life changed with her, and my outlook on life. I would never have been here if it wasn’t for her. This is all my daughter’s doing. That’s why it’s named after her,” says Ed. “Her spirit and energy through all of her struggles was maintained with joy and love. She was a huge teacher to me and continues to be.”

Already finding tremendous success in less than a year, Mychal’s will be expanding next door. That shop will focus on merchandise and the Made With Love clothing line that the employees and trainees wear. It is a crossover between the café and Mychal’s Printing & Embroidery.

“I’ve met certain families that would love to start something like this,” says Ed. “Cafés like this should be everywhere, not necessarily just at Mychal’s.”