(October 30, 2025) The Rochester City School District’s Office of Adult and Career Education Services (OACES) celebrated the grand opening of Common Grounds Coffee Shop on Thursday, which provides adult learners with real-world training in hospitality, culinary arts, and small business operations.
Built and designed by OACES leadership and students in the Building Maintenance and Facilities program, Common Grounds is a fully functioning coffee shop that doubles as a hands-on training ground. Students practice customer service, food safety, beverage preparation, and small-business skills such as inventory management, marketing, and point-of-sale operations.
More than just a technical training site, Common Grounds helps students strengthen communication, teamwork, and confidence while connecting with the local community.
“Common Grounds, if we think about our journeys, we think about the commonality that exists with all of us,” said Dr. Eric Jay Rosser, Superintendent of Schools. “We all strive to make ourselves and our communities better. This space truly represents the best of what happens when education, innovation, and possibility all come together.”
“Common Grounds is so much more than a coffee shop; it is a live training environment built around the realities of today’s economy and the future of work,” said Lia Festenstein, Executive Director of OACES. “This is a classroom, a workforce training site, and a community hub. It teaches hospitality, entrepreneurship, customer service, and confidence.”
One student who arrived from Cuba last year described how the program has boosted her skills and confidence. “Talking directly with customers has helped me practice my English and feel more confident,” she said. “My dream is to open my own business one day.”
Another student from Sudan, who spent three years as a catering chef in Israel, said joining the culinary program felt like coming home. “This program has given me so much,” she said. “I have learned about food safety, new cooking skills, and my English has gotten even better.”
Common Grounds is now open inside OACES, serving coffee, espresso drinks, and a space where education, career development, and community come together.
