Jeremy Walsh — staff reporter
LAKE COUNTY — Restaurant owners in the county — some longstanding, some new to the business — continue to work hard to find the formula for success.
Jimmy”s Deli & Taqueria remains one of the most popular eateries in Lakeport, with patrons lining the counter and filling the seats during lunch and dinner hours on weekdays.
“We like it. We”re happy to be here, and we appreciate our customers,” Julia Tannous said.
She and her husband, Costa (“Jimmy”), opened the business on Lakeport Boulevard four years ago today.
Tannous said loyal customers return and new ones arrive daily because of Jimmy”s fresh meals, efficient service and variety of options, including Mediterranean and Mexican dishes as well as sandwiches.
In downtown Lakeport, Angelina”s Bakery & Espresso thrives using similar strategies.
Angy DeSimone-Lundeen and her husband purchased the cafe from her parents in 2006.
She said they focus on selling quality products at fair prices, maintaining consistent operating practices and offering a range of food and drinks, which include sandwiches, coffees, pastries and ice cream.
“The variety, we”ve always believed that”s very important to the business model,” she said.
DeSimone-Lundeen also pointed to the importance of having regular Lake County customers.
“A big part of our success is the local support year-round. We wouldn”t be here without it,” she said. “You just can”t count on the summertime. Tourism is a bonus.”
The cafe”s website and positive reviews on Yelp play key roles as well, according to her husband, Brian Lundeen.
Elsewhere, new business owners try their hand in the food-service industry.
Joe Miller and his wife, Lori, opened the Tutti Frutti frozen yogurt store next to Bruno”s Shop Smart in Lakeport on June 6.
“Tutti Frutti questioned whether Lakeport could support a store, but we felt Lakeport deserved a first-rate yogurt shop,” the retired CAL FIRE captain said of the chain.
Business was good during the summer but slowed after school started, the weather changed and daylight hours shortened, Miller said.
“We”re hoping people will come and support us in the winter, and a lot of people have voiced that, ”we”ll try to support you because we want you to stay,”” he added.
The couple aim to maintain a clean place where people can enjoy dessert, and they continue to learn new things about operating the self-serve, pay-by-the-ounce yogurt shop, according to Miller.
“We”re giving it the best shot,” he said.
In Clearlake, Bob Boehm opened Bobby”s Place on Lakeshore Drive late last month.
“It”s been smooth in a lot of ways and it”s been not smooth in a lot of ways … It”s improving on a daily basis,” he said.
The approximately 3,300-square-foot restaurant serves American-style breakfast and lunch Sunday through Thursday and adds dinner Friday and Saturday.
“Cooking is something I”ve been doing since I was a little kid. It”s a passion,” Boehm said.
He worked off and on, as money became available, for nearly three years to get the restaurant ready.
Boehm said he was “very optimistic” about the venture moving forward, adding, “We opened the doors and we”ve been busy since. We have regulars already, even after a few weeks.”
While some owners are trying to get their foot in the door, other experienced restaurateurs work to improve their businesses.
Jack McCormack said he relies on Facebook to spread the word about Jack”s Place Lakeport, which opened about seven weeks ago in the same Main Street building where he operated an eatery for more than two decades.
“It”s about people getting to know we”re open again,” he said.
McCormack owned The Gaslight for 22 years before closing it in April 2010 and reopening that October as Skip”s Sweet Shoppe, a restaurant and dessert parlor.
He said the changes with Skip”s didn”t really catch on, so he closed it last November and started Jack”s Place in early August.
The new restaurant is open from the mid-afternoon until the evening and offers 12 beers on tap in addition to the familiar burgers and other meals. He hopes to reintroduce the ice cream and contemplates remodeling, hosting parties and bringing in an acoustic guitarist.
Jan Mezoui, owner Zino”s on the Lake in Soda Bay, is also trying out new ideas to help her business.
To coincide with the unveiling of a new website in April, Mezoui changed the name of the restaurant to remind patrons of its lakefront location.
Additionally, Zino”s started hosting a Friday happy hour last week and will offer a Sunday brunch beginning Oct. 7.
“I”m trying to do something to bring in new customers and bring in some old customers who haven”t been here in awhile,” she said.
Jeremy Walsh is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636, ext. 37 or jwalsh@record-bee.com. Follow him on Twitter, @JeremyDWalsh.
