Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,I,SAM-Meco) recently helped celebrate the grand opening of a new café in the Ilion Mall opened by the Arc Herkimer. The Copper Café is an interactive training space for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to build skills that may assist them in the hospitality and eatery industries. The grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration gave customers the opportunity to sample the wide area of food, as well as get to know the employees and tour the café.

“I appreciated this opportunity to show my appreciation to the Arc Herkimer organization,” Smullen said. “The Copper Café will be a place for many individuals to not only enjoy great food and hospitality but allow its employees to build new skills that will propel their success in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Thank you to Arc Herkimer and the employees of the Copper Café for including me in their celebration.”