The Follow-up File: Art Cafe owners think of expansion

Name: Donna Nozzi Job: Owner

Business: The Art Cafe & Bakery

What she said then: When Donna Nozzi spoke with The Tribune last year, she and her husband, Jayme Nozzi, had recently purchased the Art Cafe in downtown San Luis Obispo for an undisclosed sum.

The Arroyo Grande pair bought the gourmet sandwich shop and bakery from Margaux Sky, who received media attention after Oprah Winfrey called her curried chicken sandwich the best sandwich she had ever tasted. Sky went on to release her own cookbook, while the Nozzis took over the quirky cafe.

They spent three months refurbishing and renovating the space, added a pastry bar and increased the seating capacity from 40 to 75. They kept the menu items the same but planned to bring in more pastries and muffins, and free wireless Internet.

“That’s how Margaux had it, and we’re going to continue it,” Nozzi said.

They also planned to display local artwork.

What she says now: The cafe has been open under their ownership for nearly 18 months and business is thriving, Nozzi said.

“It’s going really well,” she said.

They get new customers daily who come to try Oprah’s favorite sandwich, she said. Last weekend, a couple from Italy came in to enjoy the famous chicken curry sandwich. The cafe has also been written about in the Lonely Planet travel book, which brings in curious travelers.

The cafe has expanded its offerings to include “allergy-free” baked good and breads. The products are free of dairy, nuts and gluten, and have brought in many local patrons with food allergies.

“I have people who have not been able to eat a sandwich in a restaurant in 10 years, and now they can come here,” she said. “It’s really rewarding.”

Nozzi is travelling to Chicago in mid-March as part of Country Living magazine’s search to find the top women entrepreneurs of 2008.

She doesn’t know who nominated her, but she says she is honored by the invitation.

The success of the cafe has prompted her to seek a second spot. She’s considering opening a bakery in Atascadero as soon as April but would not disclose details until the deal is settled, she said.

“I’m outgrowing my space and need a bakery that could supply us here,” she said.

—Dawn White