CLEAR LAKE RIVIERA — Nancy Young set out to fill a restaurant void in Clear Lake Riviera when she took over the lease for a building at 9703 Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in October.
“I, like everyone else around here, kept saying ?we need a place to eat,”” Young said. “I thought, ?I”ve owned businesses before.” So I decided to see what I could do with it.”
On April 5 at 7 a.m., Young”s Blue Moon Caf? will open after months of renovation and preparation. The building, which has housed many restaurants in the past, sat vacant for around a year before Young took over the lease and started her venture. Young said she was able to network within the local restaurant community to assemble her staff.
“I”ve got the best crew,” she said.
To celebrate the restaurant nearing its grand opening date, Young and her staff held a pre-grand opening celebration Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. Lake County musicians Hilarie, Milton and Moe provided musical entertainment to attendees. Young estimated about 60 people stopped by to check out the caf?. She said the weather affected plans for the event.
“We were going to have an outdoor thing, invite up to 200 people,” Young said. “We had to cut it by half.”
Executive chef Kris Thomson prepared samplings of dishes, such as a French Dungeness omelet, chicken pot stickers in a peanut sauce and mini-Blue Moon burgers.
Young said she gave Thomson creative control over the cuisine.
“It”s California cuisine, but we”ve got some Cajun dishes on there,” she said. “He”s got this amazing gumbo that”s to die for.”
She said guest feedback was positive. “Everyone says the food”s just been excellent,” she said. “We”re pleased.”
Young said she is hopeful for the restaurant”s success. “I”m so excited,” she said. “We want to be here for a long time. We want people to come in the door and feel like they”re walking into my home. I want it to feel welcoming and warm. If people feel that way, then I feel like I”ve succeeded.”
Young said Blue Moon Caf? will operate Thursday through Monday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Sundays, it will be open for brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To find out more about Blue Moon Caf?, visit its website at www.bluemooncafe.co or call 277-7700.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
