Local baked goods serve hospital staff and visitors to St. Luke’s Hospital
Charles E. Hill
3 min read
NEW BEDFORD – Regulars at the Rockdale Avenue location can still purchase their cinnamon buns and other delicious pastries from On The Run Cinabun at Saint-Luc hospital.
Mary Kelley-Zis uprooted his business at the corner of Rockdale Avenue and Stackhouse Street at a small kiosk in the lobby of St. Luke’s Hospital after his lease expired. She was inspired by the majority of her clients who were hospital employees, including President and CEO Keith Hovan, said Kelley-Zis.
In the spring, Kelley-Zis contacted the hospital, interested in becoming a salesperson. After a five-month process, On the Run Cinnabun was officially operational at the hospital in mid-October.
“It has been a very exciting time because we are extremely busy,” said Kelley-Zis.
Although On the Run has gone from a stand-alone brick and mortar to a small kiosk, business hasn’t slowed down. On the Run Cinnabun serves all visitors, patients and staff. As only a few regulars migrated to the new location, business exploded with visitors and hospital staff. Due to the pandemic and understaffing, the hospital cafeteria closed, directing most of the traffic to its kiosk. Southcoast Health media spokesperson said the shutdown was only temporary and a micro-market offers take-out items with a self-checkout process with 24/7 access .
“I think of frontline workers every day,” Kelley-Zis said. “The fact that we are there to support them makes me happy.”
Kelley-Zis said even though her business is now located in a hospital lobby, that doesn’t stop the public from staying customers. The kiosk is open to everyone for take out.
Pictures:A look at On The Run Cinnabun, one of New Bedford’s newest ventures
In partnership with Jim’s Organic Coffee, On the Run Cinnabun offers French-style pressed coffee, with each cup brewed by a unique coffee machine provided by the hospital.
More than cinnamon buns
While the star of the show was the famous cinnabuns at the old location, the new kiosk offers a variety of other pastries besides cinnabuns, including cinnamon twists, muffins, raspberry cream cheese pies. , apple cider donuts and more.
“We’re always changing it,” Kelley-Zis said.
In addition to breakfast delicacies, the kiosk offers lunch combinations every week. This week, Kelley-Zis said that meatball subs with sweet potato fries will be offered.
The booth also expanded to late-night sweet treats. On Friday and Saturday nights, it offers freshly baked cookies, known as “Let’s Get Baked” cookies that “always sell”.
Since the kiosk is part of the hospital, all employees are required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19, influenza and tuberculosis, following the same protocols as hospital staff.
COVID vaccine mandate:Southcoast Health to Require COVID-19 Vaccination for Employees, Suppliers and Staff
“As a community health system, we are thrilled to partner with a local business to support a great experience for patients and the dedicated healthcare professionals who go above and beyond each day to serve our community,” wrote the Southcoast Health media spokesperson in a statement.
On the Run Cinnabun is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon. Its evening counterpart “Let’s Get Baked Cookies” which offers delivery to the public is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 pm to 8 pm.
Standard-Times Editor Kerri Tallman can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @kerri_tallman for links to recent articles.
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