Back from a summer-long hiatus, Parkway Café is again open for business. Now under new ownership, the small, hidden café intends to build upon its former glory and introduce some new items to its menu and new options for customers. Owner David Sowell and his wife Melissa decided to reopen the shop as a convenience to the many employees who work in the Parkway Center and previously enjoyed having the café nearby.
“The opportunity came, so we took the chance,” David said.
Having a strong background in the restaurant business as a manager, David intends to build a new foundation for the café. As a firm believer in comfort, he’s created ways for people waiting for their order or just wanting to sit and enjoy a fresh breakfast to do so with ease. The café has a shaded lounge center and local news programming on an outdoor TV, which stands alongside a choice of reading materials.
“I’ve tried to set it up so that I’ve got the TV with the news going, newspapers, and the Photo Ad readily available so people can sit down on our patio and relax while enjoying their coffee instead of having to rush off,” he explained.
David said he believes in offering fresh produce, and he’s often complimented on the crunch of his salads and fresh vegetables.
“I will literally crack an egg and cut fresh vegetables as ordered,” he said. “Many larger cafés have ready-made offerings.”
David is also taking requests to satisfy customers’ palates, all in the sense of finding new and exciting options. The café currently offers daily homemade soups and lunch specials, but David is always looking for opportunities to grow the business. Everything offered is customizable; customers are never restricted to a bread type or a choice of cheese.
David is also offering more hours than before. Previously the café operated from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., but it’s now open from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to meet the needs of the customers. Another change: lower prices.
“I try to keep the price as low as possible to attract people. If I can knock the price down a little bit to get people to try more items on the menu, it’s worth it,” David said.
Since re-opening, business started slow, but people began to realize that the café is again open and that it now has more to offer than before.
“Location is a challenge for those who do not frequent the Parkway Center,” David said.
The café is off of Broadway and McCoy behind Walgreens and the 76 Carwash
“It’s kind of hidden. We tell people the address and explain that it’s behind a carwash and they reply, ‘Oh, that big building!’ and we explain further, ‘Well, it’s the small building on the side of that big building,’” David said.
Parkway Café can be found at 2340 Professional Parkway in Santa Maria.
For more information, visit parkwaycafe.biz or call 922-2336.
Highlights
• Santa Ynez Valley businessmen Alex Uribe and Cesar Jimenez Uribe announced the opening of their 101 Auto Shop and the U-Haul Center at 653 Avenue of Flags in Buellton.
The family-owned and -operated auto shop offers maintenance with a full range of repairs, including oil changes, transmission and radiator flushes, tune-ups, A/C services, electrical repair, shocks, and full diagnostics for foreign and domestic automobiles.
To celebrate its grand opening, the shop is offering a deluxe oil change with a filter for $39.99 through Oct. 31.
To schedule an appointment or to find out more, call 688-8583.
Intern Allen Achterberg wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Highlights were written and compiled by Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Oct 25 – Nov 1, 2012.