A cafe that serves the community with good food and a great mission is opening in South Dallas: Ruthie’s Cafe, a spinoff of popular food truck Ruthie's Fueled by Good, is now open at 1632 MLK Jr. Blvd., in the historic Forest District building near St. Philip’s School and Community Center.

According to a release, it opened on February 10, with a ribbon cutting set for February 24.

Ruthie's Cafe was created by Ashlee Kleinert, founder of Ruthie's Fueled by Good and the nonprofit The Good Foundation, which supports overlooked or underserved communities. Ruthie's Fueled by Good helped kick off the food truck boom in 2011.

The cafe will be the first of its kind in the South Dallas area, providing healthy options for local residents — a significant stride towards addressing the food desert in the area while fostering community engagement and economic growth.

“Ruthie's has always been about more than just serving food. It's always been about serving the community and shining a light on good things happening in our community,” says Kleinert in a statement. “Opening a social-impact brick-and-mortar restaurant is a natural extension of our mission. Collaborating with other organizations to address food insecurity in this particular portion of South Dallas is incredibly important to us.”

The cafe will be open for dine-in from 7 am-4 pm, with a walk-up window for coffee orders.

The menu features the grilled cheese sandwiches from the original Ruthie's menu, plus breakfast items such as yogurt parfaits, a vegan tofu scramble, and a power bowl with sweet potato hash, chicken sausage, scrambled eggs, and spinach. There are salads and other healthy grab-n-go options and they also offer an option for non-dairy/vegan butter.

Ruthie's Cafe exterior.Ruthie's Cafe

Ruthie’s is also partnering with local farms for produce, including Bonton Farms, Liberty Street Garden, and Restorative Farms.

In addition to funding St. Philip’s mission, the cafe will employ individuals affected by the justice system, providing them with job and life skills through the Ruthie's Fellows Program; this also includes local residents who may face barriers to traditional employment opportunities.

“With Ruthie’s and The Good Foundation, we believe in the power of second chances,” says Kleinert in the release. “By hiring individuals who have been touched by the justice system, we are not only providing them with meaningful employment but also fostering a supportive community where they can rebuild their lives. Our commitment to this cause is a testament to our mission of uplifting overlooked and underserved communities."

Kleinert says that she hopes other Dallas businesses will follow the opening of Ruthie’s Cafe to help further develop the area and end food insecurity in this particular part of town. In addition to addressing the food desert, all the net profits from Ruthie’s Cafe will benefit St. Philip’s School and Community Center.

"We are incredibly grateful to be the beneficiary of proceeds from the new Ruthie’s vision," says Dr. Terry Flowers, headmaster and executive director of St. Philip’s School and Community Center. "This partnership not only supports our mission to provide quality education and resources to our students but also strengthens our community by fostering a sense of togetherness and shared purpose.”