Red Table Cafe joins market of independent coffee shops

On one of her frequent jaunts to her favorite flea market, Jess D’Angelo’s crafty eye spotted a bright brick-red, square table. With a little creativity and a sheet of glass placed neatly on top, the table has become the centerpiece—and the inspiration—for her newest endeavor.

In its short two months of business, Red Table Cafe is off to a good start. Patrons trickle in for a quick cup of coffee or a bite to eat. D’Angelo said she has already established half a dozen regulars. Though opening a new restaurant, especially a cafe, in Old Town, where streets are already sprinkled with independent and corporate coffee shops, may be a bit risky, D’Angelo is ready for the challenge.

“Every week is getting better and better,” D’Angelo said. “More people are starting to find us out. It’s pretty great, actually.”

To make sure the excitement isn’t short lived will be another story. Luckily for D’Angelo, she has plenty of support to draw from.

“I’ve opened it with my family,” D’Angelo said. “We are all in it together.”

The 28-year-old Fort Collins native worked in retail for years and has always wanted her own store. Her dad called her up one day and asked if she would want to open a cafe. Opening cafes in the Choice City is something her father, Matthew Kullinger is quite familiar with—he owned the Laurel Street Deli for 10 years and was also the owner of The Bagel Man Cafe.

“He always wants to do something different,” D’Angelo said. “I couldn’t do it without him. He has all the experience.”

Also on the team is D’Angelo’s sister-in-law who is an experienced baker and makes all the baked goods from scratch. D’Angelo’s husband designed the logo and Web site.

Coming up with a name though, was somewhat of a challenge. The family had difficulty agreeing on a name until D’Angelo’s father had an off-the-wall idea. In the spirit of friendly competition, he suggested that family members compete for the honor of naming the cafe.

Whoever could balance on one leg the longest would be dubbed the winner. Though a little wobbly, D’Angelo came through on top and named the cafe after her beloved red table. A bit of a different way of solving things, perhaps, but D’Angelo would argue that thinking outside the box is a good thing.

Her goal for Red Table Cafe is to provide good customer service, good food and a place to hang out—the exact things that make a cafe successful.

There are certainly plenty of success stories to draw inspiration from; Fort Collins seems to value its small funky coffee shops as much as it does its bikes and its handcrafted beers. The list of independent Old Town coffee shops is extensive: Cafe Ardour, The Bean Cycle, Mugs, Starry Night, Everyday Joe’s and Deja Vu are all located in Old Town between Laurel and Laporte avenues. There are also three Starbucks coffee shops within that same six-block area, ample evidence that numerous cafes can thrive and survive practically side by side.

McCabe Callahan, owner of Mugs, said to make a coffee shop or cafe last, it’s imperative to build personal connections with the customers. And like any other business, location is key. Though the Red Table is sits across the street from Cafe Ardour, he said it is possible for them to both be successful, especially as the area grows.

“It’s important for local independent businesses to work together and not as competitors, to educate the customer on sustainability and the value of local business,” Callahan said.

That’s exactly why D’Angelo took the approach she did.

“We don’t want to be considered competition for any of the cafes downtown,” D’Angelo said. “We want to focus more on food. We are trying to expand the menu. We want to offer a variety of different things.”

A variety indeed. Though the menu already boasts breakfast burritos, coffee and lattes, sandwiches and pastries, it will also include beer, wine and special homemade pizzas starting June 1.

But the menu isn’t the only eclectic aspect about Red Table Cafe. Inside, second-hand tables painted white and various knickknacks for sale add to the vintage vibe. To complete the look, artwork from local artists hangs free-of charge.

“I think people enjoy the atmosphere,” D’Angelo said. “It’s homey and comfortable.”