FAQ
WHAT’S GOING ON AT FORGE CITY WORKS?
We are busy and growing here at Forge City Weeks. Here are the highlights: (1) We are expanding the scope and scale of our job training program; (2) we have taken over management of The Lyceum Conference & Event Center (room rentals and catering); (3) we are opening a new full-service restaurant called Fire by Forge; and (4) we are working on a joint project with Connecticut Foodshare to open a neighborhood grocery store.
WHY DOES FORGE CITY WORKS EXIST?
We have two core mission-focuses: (1) we provide on-the-job training for people facing barriers to employment; and (2) we address food access/insecurity issues in our neighborhood. In both cases, we use social enterprise businesses to drive our mission.
HOW DOES YOUR JOB TRAINING PROGRAM WORK?
We offer a paid job training program focused on customer service, hospitality, and culinary. Our Level 1 Core program is a 16-week course combining soft/life skills coaching, lab/methods/hard skills training, and on-the-job training in our social enterprises. We work with people 18 years old and up, facing significant barriers to employment.
IS FIREBOX RE-OPENING?
No. We are opening a new restaurant in the space that was formerly Firebox. While we hope our new restaurant will be as highly regarded and popular as Firebox, it is a different restaurant. While Firebox of a high-end fine-dining (and expensive) restaurant, our new restaurant will be “upscale casual”, with polished service, scratch cooking, featuring fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients.
WHAT IS FIRE BY FORGE?
Fire by Forge is our new restaurant which will open in Spring 2023. It is a Pan-American inspired, chef-driven, upscale casual restaurant, café, and bar. You can see our new menu here.
WHAT DOES PAN-AMERICAN INSPIRED MEAN?
The inspiration for our menu and concept is all the rich food cultures of the Americas – North, Central and South America. While a broad palette, these traditions and cultures represent both the backgrounds of many of our trainees, as well as those who live in our Frog Hollow neighborhood.
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE KITCHEN CATERING?
The Kitchen Catering is now Fire by Forge Catering. While you will still find all your favorite items on our catering menu, we are also adding some Fire by Forge flair.
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE KITCHEN CAFÉ?
The Kitchen Café is relocating and will become part of Fire by Forge. For breakfast and lunch, the front part of the restaurant will function as a café, with counter service and a range of food options similar to what we offer now. At lunch, both café and table service will be available. Bar service will be available at both lunch and dinner; full dinner service will be served throughout the new restaurant.
The former space will become part of our Culinary Training Center. The physical kitchen will serve as our catering and training kitchen; the café space will become a trainee classroom, with computers, teaching space, technology, etc.
WHEN IS THIS ALL HAPPENING?
Soon! While we do not have a date set, we expect the transition to happen this Spring. We have already transitioned our catering to Fire by Forge Catering. We will move the café over to the new space as soon as the space is ready. Full dinner service and our bar will roll out a few weeks later.
WHY IS THIS ALL HAPPENING?
These changes and expansions will allow us to serve our core mission more effectively. We also think we will be able to serve our guests and customers better. We are excited about these changes and new opportunities – and we hope you are too!