A revitalized Cafe 976 Felspar has re-opened for business at the corner of Cass and Felspar streets in Pacific Beach.
“We pretty much put a new coat of paint on every inch of the house inside and out,” said the restaurant’s new general manager, Braden Rojas. “We totally redid the kitchen.”
Asked why new owners hadn’t changed the cafe’s name, Rojas corrected, “We did, just added Felspar to the end of it.”
Iconic 1920s-era Cafe 976 was temporarily closed June 20 after more than 20 years in business. Cass Street Real Estate Holdings LLC, led by local developer Michael Turk, purchased the property at 4612-20 Cass St. in May 2015 for $2.5 million in cash.
Previously, the high-profile corner lot was a gardening business named Too Pooped to Plant. It was also once the residence of Earl and Birdie Taylor, for whom Pacific Beach’s nearby library is named.
Rojas promised new and returning patrons that Cafe 976 has kept its old charm, and built upon that to establish its new foundation.
“We brought back that same homey, comfortable feeling. It’s almost like coming to your own home,” he said. “What we tried to change is the whole attitude, improving customer service.”
The goal was to re-create the cafe so as to “keep people coming back and feeling comfortable every time they come in,” Rojas said.
The menu at the full-service cafe, open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m.to 7 p.m., is only slightly different.
“We kept it (menu) virtually the same,” said Rojas. “It’s very healthy, useable. I added a few more hearty sandwiches, like a French dip and a turkey pastrami reuben.”
The eatery’s GM also recommended Cafe 976’s steamed egg dish that he said is both “fluffy and healthy.
“We also have sandwich and soup combinations,” Rojas added.
“The kitchen stops (cooking) at 5 p.m.,” said Rojas noting pre-prepared deli sandwiches, pastries, bagels, smoothies, lattes and espressos, lemon drinks and other refreshments will still be available until the restaurant closes.
But the eatery will continue with some of its old, popular standards, like the spinach burger, which Rojas noted is “hugely popular.” He added the dish can be made also as either a wrap or a burrito.
Noting the restaurant had a soft re-opening Aug. 22, Rojas is happy to report clients from far and wide are returning.
“We have a worldwide clientele, this is a destination people come back to” he said pointing out, “I’ve had people come up to me and say, ‘I’m from France and I’ve been coming to this place for years: I come here every time. It’s amazing.”
Rojas praised Cafe 976’s “gardeny feeling” as well as its health-conscious menu with lots of variety, noting they’re all solid reasons for customers to come back.
In the future, Rojas said the cafe’s owners are considering opening up outdoor patio space for small groups and special occasions.
“It could be a great event space, though it would need some reworking,” he said. “We’d like to host events like birthdays, wedding rehearsals, et cetera, as long as it doesn’t interfere with our regular business.
Rojas concluded that the key to any restaurant’s success, as always, is “making the customer happy.” Cafe 976 Felspar Where: 4612-20 Cass St.
Hours: Open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m.to 7 p.m.
Info: 858-203-7140, cafe976felspar.com