It was a total 360 moment for Mark Webster when his company "Real Taste Catering" opened inside the Illinois Fall Creek Center on the Ivy Tech Community College's Indianapolis campus on January 17.
The building, now known as the IFC building, located off of Fall Creek Parkway and Illinois Street, was once a St. Vincent Hospital site. It was first constructed in 1909 and served as St. Vincent Hospital from 1913 to 1974.
And that building is one of real significance to Webster and his family.
"This is really special to me because ... this is where I was born -- this hospital," Webster said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Real Taste and Tea's Me Cafe.
Plus, Webster's grandmother retired from that exact St. Vincent Hospital.
"Everything about this is special, and I just thank you, Doc [Chancellor Lorenzo Esters], for allowing me to do that," Webster said.
“One of the things that really inspires me about Tamika and Mark is that they both certainly have a heart for our community. And that comes across in their personality and their style," Chancellor Lorenzo Esters said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"I'm just really excited about this opportunity," Webster said. "We want to provide a good food service to the students here, as well as the community."
Real Taste has an assortment of offerings for Ivy Tech students, faculty, staff, and the community at Ivy Tech, including vegan options, quick deli grabs, breakfast, and daily lunch specials.
"Everybody in the city knows Real Taste chicken and Real Taste fish. And so I just wanted to put it on the record that we are serving that here," Webster said. "We're going to do it all.”
For over 25 years, Real Taste has catered weddings, birthday parties, church events, schools, family reunions, corporate events, company picnics, and other large-scale events. It also offers a variety of food management services working with various organizations, such as the Indiana Black Expo, the Circle City Classic, and local school systems, to name just a few.
Real Taste Catering is open in the Bowen Commons Food Court inside of IFC Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.realtastecatering.com.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
