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Coffee beans to steak: evolution of a Cafe
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As with all North Beach establishments, Pat’s Cafe has an interesting story of its growth. The cafe has evolved over the years.jpg)
from a coffee bean store to a full-fledged restaurant. The owner, Pat, explained the motivation for all the changes and growth over the years in two thoughts. First, “You need to go with the flow” and second, “Listen to what the customers want.”
In the early ‘80s, Pat opened her first store called ‘Polk St. Beans’ without a business plan and any restaurant experience. She decided to start small. This store only sold coffee beans and gifts. She decided to take some classes on how to open your own business and with that the ‘Polk St. Beans’ doors opened.
After several months, her original customers suggested, in addition to selling beans and gifts, she could serve coffee. By listening to her customers and ‘going with the flow,’ Pat bought an espresso machine, which was received by rave reviews. Her customers then suggested she serve pastries, which led to sandwiches, which led to opening her first cafe on Leavenworth and NorthPoint.
Pat used words like sacrifice and hard work, when asked for her advice to anyone who wants to go into a self-run business. She observed, “It’s been two years since I’ve had a day off. I can’t afford to have a cold. One of the best things about running my own business is working for myself and feeling independent. Throughout all of these years, I am lucky to have found my passion. First time business owners should be ready to have their business be their baby.”
Pat’s Cafe still gets returning customers from her Polk St. Beans store and her first restaurant, even though those locations had a different ambiance. For example, at her Leavenworth location, customers felt comfortable enough to refill their own coffee cups.
A proud look comes over her face when she thinks of her tourist visitors. “European tourists come to the cafe to have their first taste of American food at my restaurant.” Other customers have returned just to buy Pat’s mugs. She recalls that a tourist once told her, “I wanted to take your mugs home so I can remember coming to this cafe and smile every time I use it to drink my morning coffee.”
Her final advice to first-time business owners is to, “Embrace and learn from your customers.”
Location and Hours
Pat's Cafe is at 2330 Taylor Street (just off Columbus Avenue), San Francisco, CA 94133 Phone: (415) 776-8735
Hours: Open 7 days a week for Breakfast and Lunch 7:30 am to 3 pm?Open for Dinner, 5:30 to 9 pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday
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