The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Jazzy Java Cafe co-owner Tony Flores opened his cafe last month after a year-long search for the perfect location.

Lively cafe jazzes up the coffeehouse scene

By Pam Marino

Coffee lovers living near the nexus of Cupertino, Sunnyvale and Los Altos usually had little choice but to travel out of their way in search of a good cup of coffee.

The search is over, however, now that Jazzy Java Cafe has opened in the Foothill Shopping Center, where Foothill Expressway and Homestead Road intersect.

Owners Cory and Tony Flores opened the cafe last month after a year-long search for a location. The two opened the first Jazzy Java, on Cottle Road in San Jose across the street from IBM, a couple years ago. They met with such success that they decided to expand. Next month they are opening a third location in San Francisco.

The key to their success, they say, is offering what coffee powerhouse Starbucks doesn't: higher-quality products and a friendly atmosphere. "We get quite a few converts from the famous Starbucks," Tony said. Muffins and bagels are baked on the premises, and homemade bread, made daily, is thickly sliced for sandwiches.

The real secret to the store's friendliness, according to Tony, is that Cory has one of those enviable memories for names. She greets her regular customers by their first names as they walk in the door. A long-time employee now manages the San Jose store and Cory manages the new store, but Cory works at the San Jose store three times a week because customers miss her, Tony said. The couple said they are trying to instill that spirit of friendliness in their employees as well.

Jazzy Java gets its name from the jazz music that plays in the background, and from its monthly live music offerings.

The new store's first live concert is Jan. 30 from 8 to 10 p.m. The Chris Shahim Quartet is the featured entertainment. The Keystones play Feb. 13.

Cory and Tony serve freshly brewed coffee every day, as well as a wide variety of specialty coffee and espresso drinks, both hot and cold. In addition to the bagels and muffins, there are scones, cookies, biscotti and breakfast croissants.

For lunch and dinner there are "Jazzy Sandwiches" made on the homemade bread, which comes in honey wheat, nine grain, French white, sourdough and rye. Offerings include the chicken oriental sandwich, the veggie three-cheese and the Italiano. There are ham and cheese, tuna, and turkey sandwiches as well, and something called a Shrigel, which is shrimp and cream cheese on a bagel. The cafe also features a soup of the day and various salads.

The San Jose store has pasta with Cory's own homemade marinara sauce; she said there are plans to offer pasta at the new store soon.

Prices range from $4 to $5.25 for sandwiches, and $2.25 to $5 for salad; a half-sandwich with soup or salad costs $5.25.

Currently the store closes at 7 p.m., except on concert nights, but the couple said they are considering expanding into the evening.

Jazzy Java Cafe, 2310-D Homestead Road, Los Altos, 408/732-2679. Open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

[ Back to Contents Page | Sunnyvale Sun Home Page | Archives ]

This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, January 21, 1998.
©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.