Jumbo’s Beef & Brew owner Kayson Chong quietly opened his new Plentibloom food hall inside the Ruffin Building at Douglas and Broadway earlier this week, wanting to give his employees a chance to practice their new jobs.

But on Monday, Plentibloom Market & Cafe — a “food hall” concept that brings several restaurants’ dishes together into one space — will officially open to the public.

The new business has taken over the cafe area on the walkway level of the glass-encased Ruffin Building at 100 N. Broadway. The space had operated as a cafeteria called Walk Way Cafe until the pandemic closed it in 2020.

Chong was offered a chance to take the space over and envisioned a setup where the hundreds of people who work in the building as well as members of the general public could find food from popular local restaurants in one space. The remodeled space works sort of like a small hospital cafeteria, where diners can visit different counters and order the dishes they want then pay at a common cash register on their way out.

Diners will be able to get the same burgers, onion rings and fries that Chong serves at Jumbos Beef & Brew, Jumbo’s Beef & Brew, 3750 N. Woodlawn, as well as chicken and beef shawarma, hummus and tabouli from N&J Cafe, 5600 E. Lincoln, and healthy wraps from NuTree, a food concept by Plentibloom general manager Alex Mohr.

Chong also is making pizza by-the-slice, offering it from a rotating warmer. Plentibloom also offers its own build-your-own salad bar, fresh pastries and a coffee station.

Chong also has recruited a dessert vendor: XO Desserts, 548 S. Oliver, will provide cheesecake by the slice and other sweets. And an aspiring Venezuelan cook will use Plentiblom’s commercial kitchen to start serving things like arepas and empanadas.

Plentibloom also serves breakfast, and its offerings in the morning include an oatmeal bar with lots of toppings.

Its hours starting on Monday will be 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Diners can either take their food with them or stay and eat in the large dining area outside the cafe that’s overflowing with tables and chairs. Chong said he hopes his customers will be the hundreds of people who work in the Ruffin Building, which now is about 70% occupied, as well as the many apartment dwellers, hotel guests and medical students who are downtown during the week.

Outside customers can either walk into the building at street level and take the elevator up to the walkway level or park on the walkway level of the parking garage across Broadway from the building and take the sky bridge straight into the restaurant.

For more information, visit Plentibloom Market & Cafe on Facebook and Instagram.