Amanda Morrow and Renee Moreno, both in their 20s, still ride their bikes to work every day and have a blast while they’re whipping up lattes and other organically certified blends.
The only difference is that now the two longtime employees of La Jolla’s Pannikin Cafe are no longer employees. They own the place.
“It’s a cute cafe but it was starting to get run down,” Morrow said. “The owners had three and they live up in North County, so it got hard. We took over in February and the previous owners are like family to us, so it was a very friendly sort of family transaction.”
With a key location at the corner of Girard and Pearl streets, Pannikin has been one of the favorite local hangouts since 1968. Morrow said she and Moreno plan to perform minor renovations and upgrades ” including making it wireless-friendly and a venue for live performances ” but want to retain the cafe’s homey, vintage feel.
The cafe was once part of the music and nightlife scene about six years ago, and the two women are excited about reviving that offering, Morrow said.
Starting last Friday, and continuing from 8 to 10 p.m. every Friday, Pannikin will host an eclectic mix of local bluegrass, folk and jazz musicians.
Along with staying open later, a few coats of fresh paint and some new signs, everything else at Pannikin has remained untouched ” especially its coffee selection, which the generates great pride with the two young owners.
“It’s been really fun because we love coffee ” that’s our specialty,” Morrow said. “The majority of our coffee is organic certified, and I do all the buying and roasting. I’m very picky about my coffee because I drink it all day long.”
The two owners, who live only a few blocks from the Pannikin, said the task of taking the cafe under their wing was much like taking on the responsibilities of graduate school ” it has basically consumed their entire lives.
But they wouldn’t have it any other way, Morrow said, adding that their ultimate goal is to continue pleasing both the new and older crowds that frequent the Pannikin.
“We don’t want to change the feel of it because there are literally people who have been coming in since ’68,” Morrow said. “We plan on keeping its same vintage feel.”
The Pannikin Café, 7467 Girard Ave., is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, call (858) 454-5453.
