The Times of SWLA
Lake Area residents may remember when Chez Caffe owners Ken Daugherty and Greg Thomas sold food and coffee in the local mall.
“In 1989, we bought a little deli in the west side of the mall and ran that for five or six years. It was kind of a hamburger and fries joint,” said Daugherty.
The two friends decided to become partners once they were out-of-work.
“When we were in need of a job this little deli in the mall became available. We thought why don’t we just buy our own business,” said Daugherty.
In 1993, while Daugherty and Thomas spent some time in Dallas they were inspired to start selling coffee.
“We wondered why Lake Charles didn’t have any coffee shops like you see around the big metropolitan areas. So we started putting together a plan for coffees,” said Daugherty.
The partners started a little coffee kiosk in the mall in September of 1993. They operated it through the Christmas season, and after proving its success they expanded into a larger area and called it A Place to Meet.
“We had lighter sandwiches and a healthier menu. It has just kind of developed and hung on all these years,” said Daugherty.
The deli closed in 1996 when the mall was beginning the expansion.
“It was just an opportune time to shut down and not go with the mall from that point,” said Daugherty.
Mall management changed and the mall wanted national companies and national names not the mom and pop type businesses.
“At the mall you are blessed with a captive audience. When we moved out of the mall customers followed us, but also it opened a lot of doors for new customers,” said Daugherty.
The transition was very easy for Daugherty and Thomas. Their sales even increased as a result of the move.
Ken Daugherty, Cyd Daugherty, and Greg Thomas
The mall offered time for the owners to hone their skills. They learned what kinds of coffee people preferred and also perfected their chicken salad.
“We average about forty pounds of chicken salad everyday. That is kind of our forte. If it is not coffee then it is chicken salad,” said Daugherty.
Each morning Daugherty, his wife Cyd, and Thomas arrive between 5:45 and 6:00 a.m. to prepare for breakfast and lunch.
“The first thing we do is stick in a ten pound bag of chicken to start boiling and while we’re doing that we are starting to brew coffee,” said Daugherty.
The Chez Caffe opens at 7 a.m. for breakfast.
“We make our own biscuits every morning. We have biscuit sandwiches, croissants, croissant sandwiches, eggs, and bacon,” said Daugherty.
They haven’t branched out into pancakes and waffles, but Daugherty says they are still thinking about it.
“Most people that come in for breakfast are on their way to work and they come in for something quick. Grab and go,” said Daugherty.
Daugherty sees the usual customers so often that he knows their vehicles. When they pull up their food is already being made.
“Everybody likes to feel like they are important somewhere so when they come in here they know they are important, they are treated special, and they know their food is being prepared for them,” said Daugherty.
The friendly atmosphere allows customers to enjoy companionship and conversation or quiet time.
Daugherty and Thomas have been friends for thirty years. As partners they divide the duties of the business.
Thomas maintains the back kitchen area and Daugherty is usually up in the front greeting customers.
“We each have our function and we still communicate a lot and say here is what is going on here. He usually handles things on his end and I do on mine. I think that has been a large part of our success to make this business last as long as it has,” said Daugherty.
Working in the front allows Daugherty to enjoy conversations and the relationships he builds with the customers.
“What I enjoy the most is the people and the camaraderie I get from the relationships,” said Daugherty.
Business is fun for Daugherty. He describes it as a personality.
“Along with a good product people are paying for the atmosphere or buying the personality as well,” said Daugherty.
It is a challenge everyday and fortunately after 20 years it is good to have many of the challenges whipped. Daugherty says there is never a dull moment, and he can’t let himself get too comfortable and let things falter.
“I have to make sure my service is good and my food is good after all these years. Make sure it is made consistently no matter who makes it, and that is hard some times,” said Daugherty.
“It has been a ride. If I could do it again I would put recorders in here and cameras so I could see all the coffee conversations. We would have a humorous book that’s all I can say.”
For a cup of coffee and conversation stop by Chez Caffe at 127 W. College Street, Monday-Saturday from 7-3, or for more information call 337-474-2200.
