Dining at MS Industries for the Blind

A few years ago I visited a friend in Brooklyn. On one of our lunches together, he took wanted to take me to The Taco Factory, a place recently written up in the NY Times. I assumed it was another trendy New York cafe, but it was nothing like I imagined. In the corner of a giant warehouse where forklifts buzzed around and workers lined conveyor belts, sat a little eatery designed to serve employees of a factory. We ate amazing tacos side by side with workers wearing hair nets and Brooklyn hipsters in the industrial atmosphere of a literal “taco shell factory”.

This morning I saw the potential for a similar experience in Jackson. On the edge of Fondren, inside the Mississippi Industries for the Blind is D & L Cafeteria. I know Fondren isn’t Brooklyn, and this blog certainly isn’t the New York Times, but it’s easy for me to imagine how white-collar folks might enjoy eating in this blue collar atmosphere.

Just off of West Street, the entrance to the Cafeteria is unpretentious, and simply labeled “Cafeteria”.  Inside, the friendly employees will load up your plate with as much sausage, bacon, eggs, and biscuits as you can stand for $4, and that includes your self serve coffee.  The dining area, which is typical of institutional buildings, boasts a nice view of Veterans Stadium.  Occasionally, a loudspeaker calls various employees to the office.  Apparently, the dining area doubles as a conference room.  I was fortunate enough to be present for a group of employees receiving training on workplace behaviour and sexual harassment.

All in all, D & L Cafeteria is worth a visit, especially if you need to escape from the white collar world.  They also serve a plate lunch, but will have to be another visit.