Hidden gem with a “pay it forward” menu

August 31, 2018 | 4:12 am

Updated September 10, 2018 | 10:49 pm

Overflow Cafe's pimento cheese and chicken salad | Photo by Christy Chaney

There is a small cafe tucked into the corner of the Don Moore Chevrolet dealership on the East side of town where those-in-the-know pick up their morning caffeine or their midday munchie and support the community all at the same time.

Seven years ago, Don and Marla Moore decided their cup runneth over and they wanted to give back to the community that has entrusted so much to them. The idea of the Overflow Cafe was born. Susan Anderson was instrumental in putting together the food service side of the Cafe and the Moore’s son Doniphan Moore designed the look.

Overflow Cafe sells handcrafted gourmet coffees, but there is a twist.  Fifty cents of every cup sold is given back to the community. The recipients of the funds are the Boulware Mission, Saint Benedict’s and the Daniel Pitino Shelter.

The purchase of any of their coffee drinks or one of their six daily brews, which always include three flavored offerings along with a dark Italian, their house blend, and a decaf contributes to the success of these organizations.

Coffee is not the only item this little gem of a place serves.  There is a very special chicken salad on the menu that has its own history, and it is a well-kept family secret.  Marla Moore’s mother owned Sweet Magnolia’s in Lexington, where the chicken salad first came to fame. The ingredients include a secret sauce, all white meat chicken, fine cut celery, chopped pecans and grapes.

Originally the sauce was shipped here from Lexington but the chicken salad was so well received that  the recipe was entrusted to the Overflow Cafe and is sold by the pound, half pound, or as a sandwich.

Anderson laughs and says, “over the years I have probably made a couple of tons of it.”

If chicken salad is not your thing, there is always the pimento cheese. The recipe for it comes from Moore herself.

“It’s is a unique recipe with a little more zing and zest,” Anderson said, and even those who say “no” to pimento cheese say “yes” to this pimento cheese.

Everyone who comes to the service department at the dealership receives a wooden nickel that can be redeemed for a small coffee, a soda, a medium tea or $1.50 off any drink order.  Customer service is a top priority for the Overflow and for the dealership.

Chicken salad, pimento cheese and gourmet coffees are all served with a “Pay it Forward” mentality that supports a local business who in turn supports the community; that is truly a full circle of giving.

“We are blessed to only serve the best products. Our customer service is second to none, and we love what we do,” said Anderson.

The Overflow Cafe offers drive thru or dine-in service and is located at 3232 Villa Point. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 6:30 am until 8 pm and on Saturday from 7:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.

August 31, 2018 | 4:12 am

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