Coffee Connections: An Interview with Enjoy Cafe
The Owl interviews Enjoy Coffee, Sweets and Savories in Honeoye Falls, owned by Gail and Paul Koehler.
Owl Light News:
How did you come to be a coffee house?
Enjoy Coffee Sweets and Savories:
Our love of coffee, food, and people found our path today – as the owners of Enjoy Coffee, Sweets & Savories. Owning a small coffee café in a quaint village was something we had desired for a long time. An existing café in the village of Honeoye Falls presented our perfect vision. In August 2009, we purchased Enjoy Café. Our goal was to serve our customers beyond their expectations. Serve products of high quality, deliver welcoming and friendly service and become part of the community.
We were both born and raised in the Rochester area, Paul from LeRoy and Gail in Webster. These roots give us an attachment and appreciation for the beauty of western New York. Education and employment gave us the opportunity to live in Rhode Island, Florida, Vermont and Maine. Our individual experiences and knowledge complement each other. For seven years, we were employed as innkeepers/restauranteurs/general managers for two country inns with independent restaurants and conference centers in Vermont and Maine.
Paul has over twenty years experience as a chef educated at Johnson and Wales University in Culinary Arts. Gail received a Master’s Degree in Counseling Education from SUNY @ Brockport and furthered her education in writing, business accounting, and international baking and pastry coursework.
Owl:
Who are the people behind the scenes and front of the house that keep you going?
Enjoy:
As a mom and pop business, Enjoy Cafe is kept going by Paul and Gail. We take care of all the operations (purchasing, food production, etc.). Paul focuses on the food, customer service and daily operations of the shop. Gail’s focus is the administrative and financial portion of the business. Although, both help each other out.
An integral part of keeping Enjoy Café going are the five-part-time staff we employ. We value and appreciate our employees. We present a motto of working hard, thinking about our customers’ needs, and doing whatever it takes. We do it by treating each other and customers with respect. We do it by acting as a team.
Owl:
Who roasts your coffee?
Enjoy:
After trying out a few roasters in the area, in 2013 we finally found the perfect locally owned roaster. Evening Star Coffee Roasters in Avon, NY. Jody Wolfanger – Evening Star’s owner is a wonderful person, great to work with. We are so pleased with blends he specially roasts for us.
Owl:
In what ways does your venue expand and encourage community connections?
Enjoy:
Providing a clean, comfortable, casual and open environment helps create a venue where people want to come. Our goal is to welcome everyone who enters the café and encourage as much interaction with other customers as possible. We want to make the customers feel welcomed and comfortable. We remember as many names as our minds allow. This has helped us develop many return and loyal customers. There are several different people who meet regularly at Enjoy Café. Daily a group of professionals meet in the morning before heading off to work and discuss everything under the sun (politics, personal projects or just joking with each other.) Midday, often once a week, a group of Moms with their babies come in to socialize while their toddlers are in preschool. A group from a local church come in to celebrate birthdays or special occasions. People plan to meet friends for a comforting chat or just come in by themselves to watch the activity of others.
Owl:
Other than coffee, what offerings do you have that make your place special?
Enjoy:
We offer a full café menu. Paul’s culinary knowledge adds a wholesome quality to our menu. His soups quiches and sweets are made with fresh ingredients. Customers often request their favorite soup and want his recipes.
We offer wireless networking for the salesperson or student who stops in to catch up with work while they eat lunch and a community venue for local artist to display their art.
Owl:
How would you describe the people you serve?
Enjoy:
The people we serve are as varied as the demographics of the village. All of them are wonderful.
Owl:
Every space has an atmosphere, a feel that distinguishes it. How would describe the “mood” at Enjoy?
Enjoy:
The atmosphere we try to create is friendly, welcoming and a comfortable neighborhood environment. At times it is laid back and quiet, at other times the clientele brings shop wide conversations and laughter.
Owl
What else makes Enjoy Cafe special?
Enjoy:
A personal approach to our customers.