And while he admits he’s not an addiction recovery expert, Cozadd said he finds joy in seeing others succeed. In addition, Cozadd said, the restaurant is paying a fair wage as well, starting staff at $17 to $25 per hour. “We're not just hiring people in recovery," he added, "but everyone who's hired has access to all the same tools.” “I realized that probably the only way to do that was to create a restaurant that that was the core purpose,” he said.Ĭozadd also thinks the process can help those who don’t suffer from addiction live a balanced, happy life as well. “We have a lot of people within the kitchen that are leaders that are able to see things or if somebody comes to us or an employee has an issue we will be able to deal with it instead of them just crashing out on alcohol and drugs,” Mills said. “A lot of people who use gravitate toward the kitchen, meaning using drugs and alcohol and abusing, trying to keep up with the life of the hectic kitchen,” Mills said.īut having colleagues in the kitchen who are experienced and recognize a potential issue is a strong point, he added. But during the pandemic, Mills said he was able to reset himself. In the past, Mills said, he has experienced alcoholism and drug abuse, and subsequently treatment and therapy. "But we really care about your whole well-being.” “To really be there for the employee, mind, body and soul completely and just not trying to get work out of them," Mills said. Mills is excited to be a part of this concept, one he said that’s dedicated to pushing the agenda of changing the environment of the kitchen and providing tools, such as therapists and gym memberships, to promote wellness among staff. “We're excited to support Aaron with the resources he needs to create a unique dining experience for guests and an environment to help our employees thrive.” “We were inspired by Aaron’s passion for supporting those in the industry who wanted to stay in hospitality but were struggling with addiction,” David Ritchie, president of Mission Restaurant Group - which operates several restaurant concepts in Michigan, most notably the Jolly Pumpkin brand - said in a news release. before it closed in early June to transform into Vigilante Kitchen + Bar. The idea for the restaurant first came to Cozadd in 2012 while sitting in an Oakland County jail after his second arrest for driving under the influence, or DUI.Ĭozadd - who previously worked for the Union Joints restaurant group that owns Clarkston Union, Honcho, Gran Castor, Union Assembly, Vinsetta Garage and others - brought the concept to and partnered with the Michigan-based Mission Restaurant Group, which operated Smith & Co. "Pretty much what I realized is if I could put a substance in my body and within five minutes felt a change, I was addicted to that," he said.
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Vigilante - whose vibe is billed as "a little bit punk rock, a little bit Zen, and a lot delicious" - offers employee benefits including on-site recovery meetings, pre-shift meditation sessions, access to counseling, fitness programs and health insurance for all full-time staff.Ĭozadd's own addiction battles, he told the Free Press, skewed more toward opiates, but also included alcohol while working in the industry. According to the American Addiction Centers, nearly 1 in 5 hospitality workers reported using illicit drugs within the past month. “At Vigilante Kitchen + Bar, we’re going to illuminate this issue by offering a supportive program for those struggling with addiction.”Ī national survey on drug use found that employees of restaurants and hotels have the highest rate of any industry. Helena, California, said in a news release. “For as long as I can recall, the restaurant industry has carried a dark negative stigma,” Cozadd, a veteran of the metro Detroit restaurant scene who studied at the Culinary Institute of America in St.
While its menu focuses on Midwest flavors with Asian influences, what truly sets this new restaurant apart is its mission to provide its staff with assistance, support and resources needed for addiction recovery. That's when Vigilante Kitchen + Bar opened its doors in the former Smith & Co. On Friday, that concept came to fruition.
View Gallery: Vigilante Kitchen + Bar opens with a focus mission for addiction recoveryįor six years, executive chef Aaron Cozadd set his sights on a restaurant concept with a core purpose of supporting its staff, who also face addiction recovery, and a focus on life balance.
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