XENIA — Visitors to One Bistro during National Everybody Eats Week will get a chance to be served by a local celebrity … or at least a well-known area person.
Xenia Fire Chief Ken Riggsby, Joe Mullins of the popular bluegrass band Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, and local businessmen Brian Stephan, Matt Bennett, Matt McFarland, and John Zeller will be celebrity servers during the special events at the Xenia pay-what-you-can cafe.
“The mission that One Bistro is doing for our city is fantastic,” Riggsby said. “In today’s world, it is hard to find not only people but a business that has set their goals based on the grace of God. I like the simplicity of how One Bistro helps those in need through the patrons that visit the restaurant. A simple few extra dollars when you buy a meal helps another person that is in need. I have always had a passion for helping others, through the line of work I’m in, and through my church. I have been involved in missions through our church for many years. I have been on numerous mission trips to Africa and Honduras. With One Bistro, we have the ability to serve in missions right in our downtown.”
Mullins said he learned about One Bistro through Rotary and fell in love with the food.
“I believe if you give someone something, it should be something of quality,” he said. “The food, service, and graciousness of One Bistro’s team is top shelf. It’s always worthwhile to serve your neighbors. And if a neighbor needs a meal, it should be a good one.”
McFarland said his reasons for helping out are two-fold.
“For me it is both personal and a mission of faith,” he said. “Personally, being of service to people in need always makes me feel good, and that would be reward enough to keep me involved. I am truly thankful that One Bistro was brought into my life. As for my journey of faith as a follower of Christ, the Bible tells me many times to feed the hungry. In this instance, I am most drawn to James chapter 2 where we are told that if someone has a need it does not matter what we say if we fail to do anything to meet their need.”
As a business owner, Stephan sponsors a couple community meals each year. This is his first year as a celebrity server.
“The ongoing commitment to the primary mission — feeding people with amazing food,” he said. “It is more important now than ever before to have a place providing meals for the community.”
Zeller remembers when One Bistro was only a truck on a side street in Xenia and now he said it reminds him of “Cheers” — some place to go where everyone knows your name.
“As One Bistro opened up it quickly became the highlight of Xenia community for lunch,” he said. “As I pass by during the week, I will see a car I know and stop to catch up. Sometimes it is for coffee from the hub or lunch from Bistro, you just never know what it will be.”
Bennett heard about One Bistro before it opened in Xenia, when it just had a Miamisburg location.
“One Bistro fills a void and a hole in Xenia,” he said. “There is a food desert, homelessness is growing, unemployment rate is up. There are people with hungry bellies. One Bistro is doing God’s work.”
McFarland is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26; Stephan, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27; Riggsby, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28; Bennett, 5-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28; Mullins, 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29; and Zeller, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29.