The Cullenary Cafe: Roadside with the “Window on the World” open
2020 was a tough year, but one bright spot for the Blue Stars and our members, volunteers, and staff is the completion of the Cullenary Cafe. The project took more than three years to go from an idea to finished product, and involved the combined efforts of hundreds of people who care about the Blue Stars and are committed to the organization’s long-term success. Special thanks go to:
Charlie Cullen - Charlie’s generous initial donation made the project go from dream to reality. A member of the first Blue Stars drum corps, Charlie has served the Blue Stars’ organization with selfless dedication over several decades. The Cullenary Cafe is named in his honor.
Tom Volk - An amazing person and super volunteer, Tom stepped forward with a generous matching challenge and pushed this project over the finish line. He is an inspiration to us all and we’re lucky to have him as part of the Blue Stars’ family.
Kitchen Campaign Donors - More than 500 individuals, families, foundations, and businesses donated sums small and large to make the Cullenary Cafe a reality. This was the largest capital project in the history of our organization and we could not have done it without the support of each and every one of you.
Mike Andrews - An alumnus and current Transportation Manager, Mike guided this project through the design and build phases with aplomb. His keen eye for details and constant communication with our build partners ensured an end product of which we can all be proud.
Colin Klos - An alumnus who has enjoyed a successful career as an architect, Colin took ideas and input from Culinary Manager Sue Wilson, Executive Director Brad Furlano, Mike Andrews, John Donahue (and many more), and turned them into design blueprints for the kitchen trailer of our dreams.
Blue Stars Board of Directors - This dedicated group of professionals has guided the organization through a complete renewal of our vehicle fleet over the past 6 years, culminating in the debut of the Cullenary Cafe.
Kentucky Specialty Vehicles - Our build partner for the project, Kentucky Trailers, was an absolutely fantastic partner in turning lines on paper into a completed machine. Their build crew had an amazing level of skill and attention to detail, and were able to turn our craziest ideas into reality. We highly recommend the Kentucky team if you’re contemplating a similar project.
The Cullenary Cafe is estimated to serve the Blue Stars for 30 years, and was designed to provide our kitchen staff and volunteers with a safe and comfortable environment from which to prepare nutritious and delicious meals for our members and staff. We can’t wait to get back on the road and begin using this amazing kitchen.
Charlie and Tom - Finis Coronat Opus
Sue gets the keys to the new kitchen
Cheers! Mike and Sue celebrate on delivery day
Walk-in refrigerator/freezer
Curbside view
Major appliance row: Double Convection Oven, 6-Burner Cooktop, Tilt Skillet, 48-inch Griddle
From front, looking towards rear of kitchen area
Tom’s Hydration Bay getting approval from the man himself
