The Obama Foundation Brings World-Class, Affordable, Local Culinary Experience to the Obama Presidential Center
February 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM CDT
Chicago Chef Cliff Rome and Bon Appétit Collaborate on a Unique Partnership to Provide Food Service and Catering Operations at the Center’s Restaurant, Café, and During Event Rentals
CHICAGO – As the Obama Foundation prepares to open the Obama Presidential Center to the public in 2026, today they announced Chicago Chef Cliff Rome and Bon Appétit Management Company will collaborate to provide food service and catering operations across the majority of campus, including at the Center’s restaurant and café, which are open to the public.
“We are thrilled to offer a world-class culinary experience right here at home on the South Side of Chicago, from the ingredients that come from the community to the visionary chef,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation. “We look forward to opening our doors to our community and hosting memorable special events of all sizes – from family picnics to conferences – with nutritious, ethically sourced, delicious food for our guests.”
Bon Appétit and Rome’s Joy Companies – working together as “BAMJoy” – offers a mix of deep community roots with the experience of large-scale cultural institutions to meet the Center’s vision and practical needs.
Rome’s Joy Companies was founded by Chef Cliff Rome, who grew up in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood and built his career in the city. He is founder of Rome’s Joy Companies, which includes Peach’s Restaurant, Rome’s Joy Companies Catering, and the historic Parkway Ballroom. With over 30 years in food service, he has earned worldwide recognition and is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of young chefs at home in Chicago and around the world.
“The experience the Obama Presidential Center will create for visitors each day will have a deep emotional resonance, which must be reflected in an end-to-end visitor experience that includes dining,” said Chef Cliff Rome. “Our team, in partnership with Bon Appétit, will deliver a culinary experience that is inspired by the Center’s vision for storytelling through food and will offer an authentic connection for guests that is a true extension of the visitor experience and a point of pride for the South Side community.”
Bon Appétit is the current food service provider for The Cleveland Museum of Art, and The Getty Center and Getty Villa in Los Angeles, as well as for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Ford Foundation.
The vast majority of the campus is free and open to the public, including the restaurant and café where visitors will enjoy culinary offerings from BAMJoy. Like other cultural institutions around Chicago, members of the public may rent spaces at the Museum, which also includes exclusive access to BAMJoy catering.
Catering from this joint venture will also be offered during special event rentals, such as weddings, corporate meetings and events, and more, which are now available for booking for events starting in 2026.
Additional Event Rental Details
In addition to the Center itself, the Home Court athletic and programmatic center will also feature eight local catering companies: Amazing Edibles, Big Delicious Planet, ChiFresh Kitchen, Fanfares Catering, Food for Thought, Hyde Park Hospitality/Fuze Catering, Limelight Catering, and Paramount Events.
Spaces for gatherings small and large are available across the Center’s campus. Highlights include:
Sky Room & Sky Room Vista : Located at the highest point on campus, the Sky Room offers stunning panoramic views seen through the words of one of President Obama’s most iconic speeches – the 50th anniversary of the March from Selma to Montgomery – which are featured on the exterior of the building. The adjoining space, Sky Room Vista, offers views overlooking Lake Michigan, downtown Chicago skyline, and features one-of-a-kind artwork.
Hope and Change Lobby : Located in the Obama Presidential Center Museum building, the three-story venue is connected by a grand staircase and floor-to-ceiling glass windows, all overlooking the OPC campus.
Home Court : The largest convening area at the Obama Presidential Center features grand views of the campus, an NBA regulation-size basketball court, flexible seating, and add-on multipurpose rooms that can accommodate a variety of events.
The Center will be a model of sustainable development through a combination of innovation and ingenuity. It will source 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy while all buildings and facilities will be LEED v4 Platinum, SITES Silver, and International WELL Building Institute Health-Safety Rating certified. No fossil fuels will be used in day-to-day operations and solar panels will be installed on the roof of the Garden Pavilion and the Home Court, helping the Center operate as a carbon neutral institution.
Pricing for Obama Presidential Center space rentals varies based on the size, room, season, and type of event and is on par with peer institutions in the city. Nonprofits are eligible for a 20 percent discount, and the Foundation will work directly with its partner community-based organizations on an ongoing basis. Proceeds from event rentals support the Foundation’s ongoing educational mission and programs.
To host an event at the Obama Presidential Center and to learn more about all the spaces available for rental, visit: obama.org/presidential-center/host-an-event (Opens in a new tab) or email events@obama.org.
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Contact: Emily Bittner, press@obama.org