Today we’d like to introduce you to Bill Disselhorst.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Bill. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In 2010, I lost a job. My wife suggested that we try to open something on our own. She had been reluctant to do so in the past, but this circumstance sparked her interest in a place of our own. We were fortunate to find a space in the Fremont Centre Theatre. It had previously been a French restaurant. When Anne and I saw the inside, we immediately saw the potential.
We spent a few months painting, cleaning and designing the space. We spent countless days searching for antique furniture and decorations. Anne had an amazing eye. She could see how a space should look. Anne and I created the menu in our home. We cooked and tasted until we had it just right. Once she said it was good, I was set and ready to go. We opened on December 10, 2010. The rest is history. It took us a long time to get busy, but after the second year the business really picked up.
Has it been a smooth road?
The biggest struggle has been losing Anne in July 2017 to a brain tumor. She was the heart and soul of the cafe. Her humor kept the staff at ease and very enthused for their job. She was funny as hell. She was also the fastest employee ever. Even the day before she passed away.
My son and I have carried on. It has been difficult but good. I know she would be happy that we kept Fiore Market Cafe going.
The community truly lifted me and Fiore up through all of this. They were by my side always. I would be walking down the street and people would go out of their way to come and see me and hug me and give me their condolences. It was truly remarkable.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Fiore Market Cafe story. Tell us more about the business.
We make homemade bread everyday. We use this bread to make sandwiches. The sandwiches are always on today’s bread. The most popular by far is the roast chicken sandwich with burratta cheese and homemade pesto. We also have salads and fresh baked goods.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Everything has changed with COVID. We always did 50% in take out business, but currently it’s 100% which is not something we intended on when we open the cafe. We always were interested in creating a casual European type atmosphere where people would meet for lunch and to socialize. It has been very difficult for me that this has been absent from Fiore during the last five months
Contact Info:
- Address: Fiore Market Cafe
1000 Fremont Ave
South Pasadena, CA 91030 - Website: Fioremarketcafe.com
- Phone: 6264412280
- Instagram: @fioremarketcafe @italianwannabwill
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