Changes at Cafe Stoked
Changes are coming to Cafe Stoked and owner, Charity Abelardo, a long-time resident of San Elijo Hills, wanted you to hear about these changes directly from her so you aren’t surprised next time you stop by.
Beginning Friday, October 5, we are closing our daily cafe operations. We will still be offering catering and special events services, but the daily cafe will be closed until we identify a new owner/operator. We are sorry for any inconvenience this causes, but hope you will understand and support our transition.
There are a lot of reasons for the change and it’s hard to put it all into a quick article, but I want you to know that I have given it much thought and consideration and this is the most feasible way to make the required transition. Closing the daily operations will give me more bandwidth and resources to devote to getting a new establishment in the space that will make sense and be good for our community.
Please know this has nothing to do with the new businesses in the town square or lack of community support. You have all been wonderful. So much has changed in my life in the last five years. When we opened our doors, it was very much a family operation. My sister, Chris Vulovic, and I were partners in the endeavor. She brought her passion for food and hospitality to the space. My kids and husband, Kim, were all part of the adventure. We poured our heart and souls into it – together. Since that time, my sister passed away, two of my kids are now in college, and I have two other businesses that demand much of my time and energy. I simply can’t give the cafe operations the kind of energy and financial resources it needs.
While it’s difficult to make this decision, knowing the impact these changes will have on our employees and customers, I also know that it will open new doors and opportunities to bring something fresh and vibrant to our community.
I am so grateful for the past five years and all of the memories we have created together at Cafe Stoked – from community service projects to special events and fundraisers. I hope you will continue to use us for your birthdays, weddings, recitals, receptions and other special events in the interim. I am not going anywhere and I will be working diligently behind-the-scenes with our catering and event services while seeking the right establishment to occupy the space moving forward.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. And, please keep following us on Facebook, Instagram and our website to hear about special events and ongoing news and updates. Again, thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to support me and my family. I appreciate it more than I can possibly put into words. I truly love our community. Thanks for making it so special.
