Café Corazón says I Love You Downtown, great while it lasted
I have sat down numerous times, as early as a few months ago, to type this up. I would grit my teeth and say, no, it's not going to happen. We can do something to hang in there. Finally the resources are completely exhausted.
There is no one to blame or point fingers at. The slow economy and crushing electric bills over the summer broke the strings I was using to hold the coffee house together.
During this time we have gotten to know and love our community even more. We really want to help bring this city up, just bad timing I guess.
I wrote a letter to the city at one point, asking for aide or assistance. They had nothing to offer.
Next week will be our last week open. We'll turn off the lights next Friday night, Halloween, for the last time....
....for now. I'm in the midst of putting together a business plan to try and keep the shop open. The process takes 30-60 days. Hopefully that will only be how long we have the doors closed.
I really have a lot to say, but like the half dozen times other I have sat down to do this I go blank in the midst of writing.
Be sure to stop by next week while we try our hardest to sell off what we have in the fridges and freezer. So there'll be bargains on everything. Haven't decided on the price of roasted coffee yet at this time, but I plan to have Beneto, my roaster in training, roasting all next week to help pay some bills. Spread the word.
We'll still be roasting and supplying our coffee clubs while the doors are closed. The roasting business has always been good. Look up our myspace for updates.
Thank you,
Leo and Liz
Café Corazón
Checkl Idiot
Stromwysper, if Checkl Idiot thinks Cafe Corazon's coffee is expensive, (s)he's obviously never even been to a Starbucks. And the comment reflects poorly on his(her) friends Tom and Cheryl.
Too bad.
AND BEANS!
I forgot to mention the deal on beans. Since I'll have someone there roasting in my absence it's like this,
$10.00 a pound or 2 pounds for $16.00!
We'll have to limit the orders to what is on the shelf.
If I happen to see you soon ed, we'll be toasting the best espresso's in town.
Cheers,
Diablo
dear guest
any idea how either of the previous owners did financially? was it fiscally solvent for either of them?
it was my understanding that the previous shop was not doing well, which is why they sold out to cafe corazon.
*disclosure - i have been a customer of cafe corazon, as frequent as i could, and regularly buy beans from them to use at home. not tooting my own horn, just acknowledging that i liked what they were doing and had never been in cafe fulton when it was around.
(No subject)
(No subject)
That's a funny reality,
and on that note....
Bring-eth the sell off. Pastries 2 for 1. Lunch specials will be 5.00 out the door. (that's only cause we have to buy the lunch bread fresh and cannot stock that one) Small cup of coffee .50 to 9am.
We'll be doing this the rest of the week.
Thanks everyone.
Diablo
Wow
It sure takes some balls to attack someone without posting your name. Why don't you go back to a North Fresno Starbucks and drink your latte instead of leaving comments that serve only to waste space on the internet.
Idiot.
Reality Checkl
Lets get real here...Tom took a boarded up piece of the mall and created the Cafe Fulton, a coffe shop the mall desparately needed....Cheryl took over and turned it into a great place to spend time in, whether for good food, delicious coffee or just a place to hang out....You two, in less than a year, turned it into garbage with your lousy, expensive coffee and rude employees....Congradulations, now please go ruin someplace else;
My Breaking Heart
I gasped when I read this, I love Cafe Corazon, leo and Liz you are both amazing people, parents, business owners and great to conversate with. i will surely be in to support Cafe Corazon this week. You both have brought such a positive vibe to the downtown area. Well, i remember when I would see you two at the farmers market outside my home in the tower, selling coffee, as it was then and now, still the best damn coffee in Fresno. It is heartbreaking to read of it ending. NEvertheless I am hopefull, and believe in the circle of things in life, your great coffee, your dedication and love for this city of ours will endure oh yeah and the coffee house too.
Thanks for the parking tips.
Thanks for the parking tips. In the past I have parked along Tulare St and it made for a long walk. Thanks a bunch.
Aside for Braty-brat et. al
About that handicapped parking...if you got the handicap license plate or placard you can park at the meters on Fresno Street without putting $$ in the meter-Cafe Corazon is three doors south of Fresno Street, west side.
Thank You All
It means a lot to hear the words of encouragement and support.
Get a hold of us anytime through email elcafecorazon@yahoo.com leave a message on my cell 9035277. Liz will still be baking and we'll still be standing by all the people that stood by us, support us and love what we do. We still have coffee clubs going and people who order the bomb ass cookies that Liz makes from scratch.
@the bratty one- as far as I'm aware all the surrounding parking areas have ramps and such for handicap access. The two nearest us would be across from the Crest Theater and underneath Club One. The link to this great event has one of the better setups I've seen for sending people downtown. The map is interactive and is well placed on the page. Thanks for your support. http://www.fusefest.com/fyi.html
Diablo
So sorry!
Sorry to hear the news, from all the way here in San Francisco.
I have three words for each and every Fresnan who gives a damn about their current property values and that of the people in older parts of town:
URBAN.
GROWTH.
BOUNDARY.
Demand it from your city council NOW. Write the Bee. Call the TV news stations and hold a press conference. Put protest banners on freeway overpasses. Discuss it with your family, friends and coworkers.
With time, you might finally do what Fresnans should have done decades ago and maybe, just maybe, community-minded people like Leo and Liz will find success in opening up a small business in the urban center.
Good luck!
Where would the nearest
Where would the nearest handicap parking be for the cafe?
damn
leo,
you know i love the stuff you sell. i've been bragging about you guys being the best coffee in town as long as i've known about you, and have always been pushing people to get their butts to your shop.
so sorry to hear that you've got to take a break for a while. unlike ross on friends, i won't cheat on you while you're on this break (did i just make a friends reference?). especially if you'll still be roasting some on the side. i've got your email, know how to find you.
but i'm serious, i'll be anticipating the return of cafe corazon.
Sorry to hear you have to
Sorry to hear you have to close. I hope you are able to reopen soon. I hope to stop by on Tuesday to shop my support to you.
Hate to see the city losing another locally owned coffee shop. One near my house(Vintage Coffee) just closed this past month as well.
I couldn't believe that people were on tv complaining that the Starbucks on Herndon and Marks was closing. Starbucks are on every corner and the coffee there is the same. Where is the support for a locally owned place. Why is no one on tv complaining? It's frustrating.
All Heart
Even though I don't drink coffee, I love your place. Thank you guys for doing what you did - the right way. Best of luck to you both!
-Mikey
-------
www.thefresnan.com
Damn
This really sucks. I was there today and of course there was no sign of this happening.
I managed Kern Street Coffee Company for three years and it was a rough three years. Business was like a pendulum swinging to and fro.
I loved the coffee business and I especially loved the customers. I can only imagine how hard this must be for you two and I wish you well.
Hopefully you'll come up with a plan to keep Cafe Corazon open but sadly, with this economy everyone is feeling the pinch.
Stay focused and dont let one minor set back keep you from doing what you love; whatever that may be.
Best wishes!
Joey
Viva Corazon
I'm crushed. I love everything about Cafe Corazon. I hope the best for you all.
Don't know what to say.
We talked about this some, and I suppose I knew it was a possibility, but it's still shocking and sad. But I have no doubt, you will still be involved in downtown Fresno, in the heart of Fresno and that you will return at some point. The product is just too good my friend.
Travis Sheridan
What a damn shame...I am glad people were able to get a chance to experience the "Best Coffee Shop in Fresno." Leo and Liz never sacrificed when it came to quality...
Let's make this week a strong week for them...
Totally sucks balls!
It's a damn shame. Hopefully you guys will rise in a short amount of time. Good luck with everything!
-Roque
www.dumbdrum.com
Cafe Corazon
Leo!Liz!
You have shown yourself to be folks of heart (the name of your place was well chosen).
Hard-working. Big-dreaming. Much-accomplishing.
Your store is like Jimmy Stewart in Its A Wonderful Life---you've touched many lives in a positive way.
I can see nothing but positive-ness up ahead....but a few trials in the meantime.
Thank you for your accomplishments in making downtown a better place and our whole town a more interesting and loving one. I can't wait to see what's up in your future.
My best wishes and prayers are with you.
--Blake
Post new comment