Piggy Bank Cafe

UPDATE

Budget Cuts Force Piggy Bank Café to Close

After ten years of operation on Main Street in Tazewell, the Piggy Bank Café closed on October 6, 2002. This well known and very popular lunch time restaurant provided vocational rehabilitation to mentally ill individuals as part of the Tazewell House psychosocial rehabilitation program. Dozens of individuals received practical work training, part-time employment and placement into private employment during the Piggy Bank’s decade of operation.

PURPOSE: The Piggy Bank Cafe is a vocational rehabilitation program operated by Tazewell House. The mission is to create positive opportunities for meaningful employment for our mentally ill clients.

The Piggy Bank Cafe is more than just a Cafe. It is a vital part of Main Street and of utmost importance to our customers and our members who are employed at the restaurant.

The Cafe has many unique and interesting features, including a beautiful, old tellers cage that was discovered in the basement of the Cafe. This was restored by the members and staff from Tazewell House and CMCSB. There are glass top tables with authentic bank documents from earlier days. The ceiling is pressed tin, decorated with griffins and other mythological fib. The outside style is Richardsonian Romanesque. The recessed arched porch, semi-circular arched openings and front gable flanked by parapet wall makes it the most ornate building on Main Street.

Perhaps by now you have figured out that the building has something to do with a bank. It was the old Clinch Valley Bank in the early 1900’s. The building has housed many businesses but it is now the Piggy Bank Café, an established business on Main Street.

At present, eight members are employed at the Cafe. Two members are paid by the Department of Rehabilitation, while the other workers receive minimum wage through Cumberland Mountain Community Services Board. During the past 4 1/2 years we have been in business, the Cafe has provided employment and training opportunities for 22 people. With the experience and self-confidence gained by employment at the Cafe, several members have secured jobs in the community while others have returned to further their education.

Our specialty items include fresh-baked sour dough bread, cheesecakes, and cheese braids. Other menu items include our Chairman of the Board Special (Pork Bar-B Que on Sour Dough), Prime Rate Burger, Default Dog with homemade chili, Bank Loan Transaction (BLT) and many more mouth-watering items.

The Piggy Bank Café is available to rent for your special event. A catering service is also available, from complete menus to simple refreshments. The choice is yours. Please call or come by for more information or to enjoy a meal.