EP# 210: From Retirement to Recipes: David Shaw's Flavorful Foray into Cafe Ownership
Mar 07, 2024Episode 210
Garfield Bowen & David Shaw
What makes David Shaw with Aji Dulce Cafe Gourmet a good neighbor?
Have you ever wondered what it's like to jump from the tranquility of retirement into the heat of a bustling cafe kitchen? That's precisely the adventure David Shaw and his wife embarked on, and he's here to whisk us through their story with a dash of Venezuelan spice and American comfort. On our latest episode of the Good Neighbor podcast, David, the co-owner of Aji Dulce Cafe Gourmet in Port St. Lucie, serves up the savory details of his journey into cafe ownership, sharing how he went from being a regular customer to running the show. The cafe's menu is a delectable blend, featuring everything from classic breakfast platters to Venezuelan delights like arepas and empanadas, and you won't want to miss their signature dish that will have your taste buds dancing.
But it's not all about the food; David's life is a rich tapestry woven with his experiences in Masonic organizations, banking, and even managing a foreclosed hotel. These stories aren't just garnish—they're hearty lessons on resilience and adaptability. As David invites us into his world, he also reveals how he and his wife are sowing seeds of community through the flavors and friendships at Aji Dulce Cafe Gourmet. So, tune in to savor David's flavorful recount of this unexpected chapter in his life, where retirement plans got swapped for recipes, and a new community found its place around the cafe's tables.
What makes David Shaw with Aji Dulce Cafe Gourmet a good neighbor?
Have you ever wondered what it's like to jump from the tranquility of retirement into the heat of a bustling cafe kitchen? That's precisely the adventure David Shaw and his wife embarked on, and he's here to whisk us through their story with a dash of Venezuelan spice and American comfort. On our latest episode of the Good Neighbor podcast, David, the co-owner of Aji Dulce Cafe Gourmet in Port St. Lucie, serves up the savory details of his journey into cafe ownership, sharing how he went from being a regular customer to running the show. The cafe's menu is a delectable blend, featuring everything from classic breakfast platters to Venezuelan delights like arepas and empanadas, and you won't want to miss their signature dish that will have your taste buds dancing.
But it's not all about the food; David's life is a rich tapestry woven with his experiences in Masonic organizations, banking, and even managing a foreclosed hotel. These stories aren't just garnish—they're hearty lessons on resilience and adaptability. As David invites us into his world, he also reveals how he and his wife are sowing seeds of community through the flavors and friendships at Aji Dulce Cafe Gourmet. So, tune in to savor David's flavorful recount of this unexpected chapter in his life, where retirement plans got swapped for recipes, and a new community found its place around the cafe's tables.
This is the Good Neighbor podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, garfield Bowen.
Speaker 2:
Welcome to the Good Neighbor podcast. Are you feeling a little hungry? Well, surprisingly, we have a cafe owner for you close than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your neighbor, david Schar, with Ase Ducey Cafe. Gourmet. David, how you doing today?
Speaker 3:
I'm doing good. How are you?
Speaker 2:
I am well. We're all excited to learn all about you and your business. Tell us about your company.
Speaker 3:
Well, my wife was working in a restaurant here in Port St Lucie and they decided to move to another location and my wife wanted to open her own restaurant. So, after talking about it, we ended up buying the restaurant she worked at on Bayshore Boulevard and we remodeled it and on February 11th we opened for business. Wow, exciting, time for you, huh, considering I was happy being retired.
Speaker 2:
Okay, what is some of the myths and misconceptions of the cafe restaurant business?
Speaker 3:
You know, this is my first time actually working or owning a restaurant, so that to me is a hard question because I'm the newbie in town. I think it's. The biggest problem is being a startup restaurant, is getting the word out and getting people to come in and try the food that you're presenting, which my wife is originally from Venezuela, so it's Venezuelan American food.
Speaker 2:
Okay, but on the bright side, you get to taste all these goodies, right? Well, I got to taste them before we did this.
Speaker 3:
We've been doing it for a couple of years now.
Speaker 2:
So what type of foods do they have?
Speaker 3:
Well, breakfast they do have an American which is eggs, bacon, sausage and home fries and toast. They've got a Venezuelan which is an egg on top of salmon, and another one not quite sure what that one is.
Speaker 2:
It's like empanadas, arepas.
Speaker 3:
We've got various baked goods that you can buy and take home with you desserts, things of that nature, a variety of different coffees, and we have ready to go meals which you can take home and make at your leisure.
Speaker 2:
David, you got to stop. You're making me hungry. Is there like a signature dish that they have that really stand?
Speaker 3:
out. I think it's the Venezuelan, which is the. I believe it's a piece of toast with salmon on it and an egg on top, and then I think it comes with home fries, and I'm not all that sure what else it comes with.
Speaker 2:
I think you need to go there and order it again, right?
Speaker 3:
Actually, I was just there this morning and I had an American.
Speaker 2:
So tell me, David, when you're not busy running your business, you and your wife, what do you like to do for fun?
Speaker 3:
Well, for the last four or five months I really haven't done anything, except I was in there with a friend of mine remodeling the place. When I'm not doing that, I am a master mason. I belong to two lodges back in Connecticut Washington Lodge 70 and Hartford Evergreen. I'm also in the shrine which I've joined down here in Florida in Melbourne York right, scottish right and Eastern Star. So I stay busy with that.
Speaker 3:
Okay, so you got your, your brothers that you spend time with yes, and I'm actually in the process of joining Acacia Lodge Down in Stuart Florida.
Speaker 2:
Let's change gears a little bit. Life often does this curveball. Let's talk about one hard shit, one life challenge, something you went through. You go back to answer your bed and, stronger because of it, what comes to mind?
Speaker 3:
well, back many years ago, I worked for a bank. I've been in banking all my life and I worked for a bank back in Windsor, connecticut, and One day my boss decided that it was time for us to part ways, and he always said you never want to work for a big company. Well, guess what? I started working for a big company UPS Actually the financial armor, ups and I Was the accounting manager.
Speaker 3:
And back in 2012, my boss called me into his office and he told me that I was going to be managing a foreclosed hotel out in Casper, wyoming. And I'm like what do I know about own real estate and managing a hotel? He goes, learn it. So I went out there. I had several interviews with town, the town manager, the fire department, customers of the hotel, employees and I came back and I wrote a report and they liked it so much. We had 18 for closed properties on the books. He called me back in his office. The president of UPS capital Wanted me to manage all 18 of them on top of my regular job, and I did very well at it. I learned it and it made me stronger and more valuable To UPS capital and my career took off from there.
Speaker 2:
And now you get front seat, the gourmet dishes right.
Speaker 3:
Well, I don't know that I get front seat, I get.
Speaker 2:
So, um, david, I'm gonna put you on the spot a little bit. I know you have a lot to say about your restaurant, but I want you to narrow it down to one thing. One thing that you want to listen is to remember about AC Ducey cafe gourmet.
Speaker 3:
I think one of the biggest things that's Helped and you know every week we're doing a little bit better is Everything's made fresh at the restaurant. My wife goes in at five o'clock in the morning and she starts making the desserts, the pies, cakes, various breads, the sauces that she serves with the various meals that she's making breakfast and lunch.
Speaker 2:
Yeah. So I mean I'm gonna have to stop this interview soon because, like I said, you're making me hungry. You're making me hungry. What is that? Right now, there's one word on listeners lips, and that's how? How can you get more information about AC Ducey cafe gourmet?
Speaker 3:
Oh, you can call the restaurant. I can give you the number. It's seven, seven, two, three, five, three, five, six, four, zero. Or you can stop by we also you can Go online and look up a seat I see Ducey cafe gourmet and see the menu and we so far have gotten a lot of five-star ratings. My wife is a very good cook. Okay, and your address of your restaurant 1042 Southwest Bayshore Boulevard in Port St Lucy.
Speaker 2:
Well, david, I really appreciate having you on the show. I wish you and your business the very best moving forward. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast Port St Lucy. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to Gnpport St Lucycom. That's Gnpport St Lucycom, or call 772-362-3840.