Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe and Aliceon Wetherbee.
Joe was a culinary school grad with a hungry ambition (pun intended, wink wink). He took as many opportunities as possible to work in different cuisines, countries, environments, anything to expand his knowledge of food. He set his goal on opening his first restaurant by the time he reached 30. One point in his late 20’s he met this amazing person and they began dating! He always had a dream to have his own restaurant and always looking for the right opportunity…and in 2010, he stumbled upon a small little spot in Granada Hills that he and Aliceon (still dating at the time) decided to take the leap! On a very small budget, they did the work themselves with the help of family to renovate, decorate & furnish the place and in October of 2010, they opened Joe’s Cafe!
It was clear from the very start that GH and the surrounding neighborhoods were craving something unique and special. The community was warm & welcoming!
Not long after the opening Joe was a competitor on Food Network’s Chopped! It was amazing to see how the community really rallied behind him and support our new little hole-in-the-wall….and then he WON! The love we felt was amazing! We are so proud to be apart of such a cool community!
At this point, we were literally busting at the seems trying to keep up with the crowds! There was definitely a need to grow our spot, but we wanted to make sure we didn’t have to go too far from where we started…and luckily a spot nearby opened up at the perfect time and it was just three doors down!
Some work had to be done to make the new location feel like “Joe’s” but once we opened in 2017, we really think the community felt right at home there and that’s exactly what we hoped for! We’ve also been able to expand our menu and offer beer & wine (which we LOVE that The Valley has some great local breweries) and we get to stay open later for dinner too!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We’ve had struggles like any small, family-owned business! It’s never 100% easy. But we’ve been fortunate to have the support of our families & a wonderful community!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Joe’s Cafe – what should we know?
We’re a true Mom and Pop restaurant, owned and operated by a husband and wife team. We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as serve beer and wine. We are most well known for our breakfast menu. Our menu consists of all the classics with an upscale twist. From stuffed French Toast to a Pork Belly Eggs Benedict. Regular customers know to expect a wait during our busy times. What sets us apart from other restaurants is our entire menu is made in-house. If we don’t make it from scratch, we don’t serve it. Between our menu and atmosphere, we are not your average restaurant.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Our families! They’ve helped every step of the way – not just as our biggest fans, but they’ve literally done it all for and with us! They’ve washed dishes, bussed tables, built tables, hung light fixtures, been tech support, organized files, etc. You name it, someone in our families has helped us to do it!
Secondly, our neighbors & community! When we first announced we had a goal to expand, people kept asking how they could help – but like physically help! They volunteered to do demo! It was such a humbling & heart-warming reaction!
Contact Info:
- Address: 17823 Chatsworth Street
Granada Hills, CA 91344 - Website: www.joescafegh.com
- Phone: 818.488.9841
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @joescafegh
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoesCafeGH
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/joes-cafe-granada-hills-2
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