Dallas
Dallas restaurant Cafe Momentum to move to new,‘free’ location
January 30, 2025
The Meadows Foundation donated 1 acre of land for this Dallas nonprofit to grow.
Cafe Momentum, the Dallas nonprofit once described as “the ultimate feel-good restaurant,” will move to a new location in 2026.
The restaurant that employs teens seeking a second chance is expected to vacate its spot in downtown Dallas’ Thanksgiving Square after more than 10 years. It will move near the Baylor hospital complex in Old East Dallas, to a tract of land owned by Dallas philanthropic group The Meadows Foundation.
Cafe Momentum’s construction project kicked off with a ceremonial groundbreaking on Jan. 30, 2025.
The Meadows Foundation donated the property, valued at $3.5 million. Cafe Momentum and CEO Chad Houser said it’s a “golden opportunity” for Cafe Momentum to own the land it operates on, with no monthly lease.
“Their mission aligns so perfectly with the neighborhood’s focus on wellness and restoration,” said Peter Miller, president and CEO of the foundation.
The Meadows Foundation has 22 acres in the Wilson Historic District of Dallas. It’s given a home to nearly three-dozen other Dallas nonprofits, making this part of Old East Dallas a beating heart for good deeds. Hugs Cafe, a McKinney-based restaurant that provides training and jobs for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, will open in Dallas’ Wilson District in 2025.
What is Cafe Momentum?
In 10 years, Cafe Momentum has grown into a nationwide social services nonprofit with a restaurant in Pittsburgh and others opening soon in Atlanta and Denver. Cafe Momentum’s employees have appeared at pop-up events at several Super Bowls. But its roots will always be in Dallas.
From its start, Houser and his team taught teens how to cook and wait tables. He required them to complete life skills classes and learn about mental health.
Cafe Momentum has since employed more than 1,200 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 who have been arrested or incarcerated and in need of a new start.
“The vision is audacious,” wrote former Dallas Morning News city columnist Sharon Grigsby: “A country where high-risk kids who come from trauma and lack social-emotional development aren’t put in handcuffs and isolated for their mistakes, but rather are nurtured with support services to be their best selves.”
In fact, Houser says working with teenagers is the easiest part of running a nonprofit. He’s starting a national conversation about juvenile justice — one that’s focused on what these teenagers can do, not what they can’t.
By moving the original Dallas restaurant to “free” Meadows Foundation land, Cafe Momentum can put more money into its social services. The new, 11,000-square-foot facility comes with more revenue opportunities, too, like cooking classes and more frequent guest chef dinners for the public.
Construction will cost about $8 million, Houser said. Cafe Momentum has already launched a capital campaign to raise $10 million, which will cover the new facility and the nonprofit’s operational needs. They’ve raised $1.3 million so far.
The two-story new Cafe Momentum is expected to take at least a year to build.
“Expansion, for us, has always been about using our space as a place where people can gather and learn,” Houser said.
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“This is the reward of 10 years of success — of our young people believing in themselves and their city.”
Cafe Momentum in Downtown Dallas will remain open until the new facility is ready in 2026. The restaurant serves dinner Thursdays through Saturdays at 1510 Pacific Ave., Dallas.
The new Cafe Momentum will be at 3001 Greenwood St., Dallas.