b'The casual and warm atmosphere at Casa is great for a shared meal with friends and family, but its also a great place to saddle up to the bar for a meal alone.work together across committees such as Casa Nuevain Athens, Ohio, ismarketing, food, and finance to support the more than a restaurantits a cornerstone ofbusiness. This cooperative culture extends local flavor, sustainability, and community. Forbeyond the inner workings of the restaurant forty years, this worker-owned cooperativeto the community it serves. Our customers has been celebrated not only for its locallyare our friends and our community members, sourced menu but for fostering a space that isexplains Corbin, noting that patrons see Casa welcoming to everyone. as their third placea community refuge We are not your typical Mexican restaurant,outside home or work.explains Grace Corbin, marketing coordinatorThis rings true for Larry Elefante, of for Casa Nueva.Youngstown, who visits Athens often and comes to Casa Nueva whenever he does. I Casas dedication to local sourcing goeslike the communal aspect of this place (Casa). beyond foodits a commitment toI like that it lends itself to the community vibe, community. Casa has always believedbut also to the individual skill sets and the that investing in our local community andpersonalities of the people who work here, economy has been an obvious choice, noteshe remarked. Corbin. By sourcing directly from nearby farms, Casa ensures its dishes are fresh andOne such worker-owner for nearly 25 years its operations sustainable. Local peppers, foris Sheri Harvey. Like a wizard she commands instance, are a staple, hand-chopped, roasted,the front of house, casually flowing between and brined in-house, making favorites liketaking orders, greeting people, helping their Enchiladas Verdes and other seasonalcoworkers, keeping glasses full, and just dishes vibrant and flavorful. The food ismaking people around her smile. The always going to be fresher when it doesntcustomers, theyre family, Harvey remarks.have to travel across the country, CorbinIn this small little town I probably have 30 adds. customers that I call, Mom and Dad who also Casas cooperative model gives everycall me their daughter. worker a voice and shared responsibilities,Casa Nuevas menu reflects this sense of creating a culture of trust and respect. Staffwarmthembracing dietary inclusivity by 40 VISIT ATHENS COUNTY | ATHENSOHIO.COM'