MINNEAPOLIS - After finding out that a new grilled cheese restaurant was moving in next door, Betz Petersen knew her 7-year-old son, Eero, would be pretty excited. She also knew she'd have to explain the real meaning behind its name: All Square.
"They want to give jobs to people who are just coming out of prison, so that they say, 'You know what, we think you're all square,'" Betz Petersen said. "You've done your time, so we want to give you a shot, we want to give you an opportunity."
Yes, the people making and serving food at All Square have also served time. The founder, Emily Turner, is an attorney who began putting the concept into motion two years ago after realizing how many ex-cons have trouble finding new opportunities after prison.
"We're doing this in response to a really serious problem that's affecting a lot of people," Turner said. "It was really hard to narrow our application pool down to the 14 fellows that we have today, but at the end of the day, this is more than just a grilled cheese gig."
All Square is actually a nonprofit that promises to do more than give its fellows on-the-job training.
"This is actually our institute space down here," said Roslynn Pedracine, Chair of the All Square Board of Directors.
For the next year, the 14 fellows will receive training and counseling in one of two tracks: how start a business or begin a legal career.
"Whatever our dreams are of our fellows, we're ensuring that we support them in accomplishing that," Pedracine said.
And that training is already showing real-world results. Fellows work on every aspect of the restaurant, including the menu.
"One of them came up with the idea for the Jamaican Jerk grilled cheese," Turner said. "That's currently our best-seller."
The menu, which features a unique variety of savory and sweet options, is already pleasing critics.
"It's the best grilled cheese I've had in my life," 7-year-old Eero Petersen said.
He says that's just the beginning.
"I think it's really good for the community," he added.
All Square is open Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.