Chatham Eagle Creates ‘Tiger Cafe’ For Job Training Program

CHATHAM, NJ — To help ECLC of NJ students in Chatham continue on their path of learning about the restaurant industry, as part of his Eagle Scout project has created model restaurant for the special needs students.

Nico Bellas helps out as a the barista in his family’s restaurant, Sorriso Kitchen, which his mother Karen Bellas runs with her husband, Jim.

Their eatery was created with their children in mind, including son, LJ, who is a student at the ECLC of NJ in Chatham, as a place where he could work and be a vibrant part of the community.

Sorriso Kitchen on 252 Main Street, having recently celebrated its third anniversary, has become a cornerstone in Chatham, especially for its special needs students’ work program, which landed in a “Lifetime” segment.

Karen Bellas said her son Nico’s Eagle Scout project, which he is in the process of achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in the near future, focused on the creation of a “mock restaurant,” which he’s nicknamed the “Tiger Cafe” in honor of the ECLC’s tiger mascot.

“Nico wanted to create a project that could expand on his family's Monday Sorriso Kitchen Job Training Program for the students of his brother LJ's school, ECLC of NJ,” she said.

The ECLC was thrilled to have received this hands-on learning environment, which includes tables, a reception stand and serving station.

Jason Killian, principal of the ECLC, said he was "extremely impressed with Nico’s vision, creativity, and efficiency from start to finish on this amazing project that will benefit our students for years to come."

"Our students will be able to benefit from this amazing set up, which is so creatively thought out and well planned by Nico Bellas," said the school's SKIL Coordinator, Stacie Webber. "We cannot thank, Nico, and the Bellas for the job-related opportunities they provide to our students here at ECLC. Sorriso Kitchen’s work program, and the Tiger Café, are opportunities our ECLC students are beyond lucky to participate in and be a part of."

"Nico's project was certainly original and will be well utilized here at ECLC," said Assistant Principal Allison Clemens. "This will prepare our students for their restaurant experience for our graduating students at Sorriso on a smaller scale. We are extremely grateful for the Tiger Cafe."

Along with the help of fellow scouts from Troop 8 and friends, including Nick Pascarella, Finn Peters, Sean Dailey and Anthony Miller, plus his dad, Nico Bellas' Eagle Scout project has been several months in the making.

Bellas is a senior at Chatham High School who has played several instruments in the high school’s marching and jazz bands, plus has studied piano and guitar in private lessons.

“His 'foreign' language choice at CHS has been American Sign Language (ASL),” Karen Bellas said.

For more about the ECLC of New Jersey, visit www.eclcofnj.org.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a local news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.