Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Josh White has become a partner in Blue Rock Shoot.

La Fondue waiter becomes a Blue Rock Shoot partner

By Michelle Alaimo

Josh White is moving up fast in the business world. A little more than two years ago, he was a waiter at the Saratoga Village restaurant La Fondue. Now he is a full business partner at Blue Rock Shoot, the successful coffeehouse across the street.

His opportunty came earlier this year when Blue Rock Shoot and La Fondue owners Mitchell and Tracey Cutler offered him a chance to buy half of Blue Rock Shoot, located at 14523 Big Basin Way.

"It seemed like a prime opportunity," White said. "Now that we're partners, things seem to be really good."

Mitchell said even though White is in his early 20s, he is very mature and responsible and handles stress well. Mitchell plans to open another La Fondue in the future and said he found it hard to handle all of the sit-down restaurant's activities as well as those of Blue Rock Shoot.

The Cutlers opened Blue Rock Shoot in March 1996. The coffeehouse offers live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights and houses a separate bookstore downstairs.

White is a "real nice fit" to Blue Rock Shoot, Mitchell said. He added that most of Blue Rock Shoot's customers don't know White is now a full partner, and that this was done on purpose. Mitchell said he wanted to give White, whose partnership began July 1, the chance to get the feel of how things worked.

"It's exciting to watch him move through the learning curves," Mitchell said.

Now that the Cutlers are focusing more attention on opening a new La Fondue, possibly in Palo Alto, Mitchell said he hopes customers will go to White for any suggestions they have about the coffeehouse.

White, who has been married for two years to Carla White and has a 1-year-old son named Angelo, said he is excited over his new job. "I never expected them to ask me to be a partner," White said.

He said that even though he is working long hours, his wife understands. "It's given us a world of opportunity," White added.

Other changes could be in the offing at Blue Rock Shoot. The coffeehouse has gained approval to add a full kitchen and to sell liquor. While the additions could be exciting, the partners are not sure if they will actually go through with the changes. It may be a case of leaving well enough alone.

"If business keeps improving the way it has been," Mitchell said, "then there is no reason for the expansion."

Blue Rock Shoot will wait until the spring to see how business goes before making a final decision, Mitchell said.

In the meantime, White said the business, which he said prides itself on good service, will continue in the same direction and see where it leads, and the coffeehouse will continue to roast its own coffee beans and make its own bagels.

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