Cameron Mitchell Restaurants is committed to the growth of the communities in which we do business.
This has been a core philosophy of our company culture from day one. In addition to our continuous philanthropic efforts, it is our mission to provide as much support as possible to a wide variety of non-profit groups and community organizations.
Our Pillars of Philanthropic Support
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants’ focus is supporting organizations that support and assist basic needs, specifically organizations and events that focus on children and families within the following giving pillars:
- Hunger
- Healthcare
- Housing
- Family Support & Safety
- Education
- DE&I
Culture
Our culture is what defines us as an organization. We are Great People Delivering Genuine Hospitality.
Support
We are committed to the growth of the communities in which we do business.
Responsibility
We have the opportunity to create a ripple effect of positive impact.
500+
organizations supported with in-kind donations and sponsorships.
$20M+
CMR and our sister company, Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern, supported charitable organizations.
Countless Volunteer Hours
CMR Associates have donated serving their local communities.
The
Milkshake
Story
Years ago, I was dining in an upscale-casual chain restaurant with my family including my 4-year-old son. My wife didn’t want to go to this restaurant because she was concerned that it didn’t accommodate children very well, but I convinced her to give it a try.
My son wanted a grilled cheese sandwich. Our server explained that it wasn’t on the menu. So, I pulled a move from Jack Nicholson in “Five Easy Pieces” and ordered a club sandwich – hold the turkey, ham, lettuce, tomato, bacon, mayonnaise and middle slice of bread; then take what’s left and sauté it up in a pan. She begrudgingly replied, “Ok.” I added, “He would also like a chocolate shake.” The server then told us that children’s milkshakes weren’t on the menu – even though they had all of the ingredients. I asked her to check with her manager. Our server came back, still saying, “No, they couldn’t make it.” I then asked to see the manager. My wife said to me, “Don’t make this a big deal.” But that was my point – it shouldn’t be a big deal.
I was more curious as to why her response was, “No.” The manager explained that their ice cream was pre-portioned and couldn’t be used for a kid’s milkshake. I then asked the manager about the ‘à la mode’ option of dessert on the menu, and she told us it was a scoop of ice cream. “Great!” I replied. “Then I’ll take an order of the ‘à la mode’, chocolate milk, and if you could whip it up in a blender, that would be great.” She begrudgingly agreed to make the shake, informing me it would be expensive. By this time my wife was beside herself, telling me she would never return to this restaurant again.
This story illustrates the opportunity to fulfill a simple request, and what a different ending the story would have if the answer was yes instead of the manager being unable to think outside of the box to find a way to give the Guest a great dining experience. This story is told again and again to our Associates as a reminder of how saying yes should be the way we try to make raving fans out of our Guests, our fellow Associates, and anyone with whom we do business.
The milkshake icon represents our commitment to say YES!
–Cameron Mitchell, Founder & CEO, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants