New Catering Business Opens in Erie
A former healthcare worker has launched a soul food catering firm, adding to the local food service options.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Shannae Mims has opened Cafe 24 Catering Co. in Erie at 848 E. Fifth St. The new food service establishment features a menu of soul food staples, including fried whiting, ribs, and wings.
Why it matters
The opening represents a career transition for Mims, who left her position in the nursing home industry to pursue catering full-time. Small business operators often leverage personal culinary interests as the foundation for local service-based ventures.
The new business occupies the storefront at 848 E. Fifth St. in Erie, adding to the local food service inventory.
The players
Shannae Mims
The 37-year-old entrepreneur and founder of Cafe 24 Catering Co. who transitioned from the nursing home sector to the catering industry.
Cafe 24 Catering Co.
A newly launched Erie-based catering business specializing in soul food and traditional baked desserts.
The details
Cafe 24 Catering Co. operates with a menu focused on traditional comfort foods such as macaroni and cheese, yams, collard greens, and cornbread. The business also serves desserts including strawberry and chocolate cakes, transitioning from Mims' former career path in nursing home care to professional food preparation.
Timeline
October 2026: Cafe 24 Catering Co. officially opened for business.
Market Landscape
This opening follows the broader pattern of independent entrepreneurs moving into specialized catering roles. It mirrors the documented shift of healthcare workers entering the food service sector as noted in U.S. Census Bureau reports on small business applications.
Local operators should track the market entry of new food service providers to assess competitive pricing and local demand for catering services. The transition highlights the importance of analyzing labor supply shifts when planning for staffing needs in the Erie area.
The takeaway
The pivot from a nursing home career to catering demonstrates how personal aptitude can drive new local business formation. Operators should monitor how new entrants price their core menu items to gauge local inflationary pressures on food commodities.
Further reading
For more on the local retail environment, visit Erie Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Go Erie.
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