Jaffa Café in SLO is moving to spot on Monterey Street

Jaffa Café, which opened at 1212 Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo 10 years ago to serve Mediterranean fare, will move a few blocks away in two months.

The new site — 1308 Monterey St. in the MIX on Monterey building — offers greater visibility thanks to the two-way traffic on Monterey, more parking and more outside seating, said owner Adnan Saleh. “It’s a better location.” The menu will not change.

Saleh expects to be operating at the new location in early to mid-December, closing for no more than 10 days while they move.

He declined to disclose the costs associated with the new location, nor his annual sales or profits, but noted that business remains strong. “Last summer was one of the best summers I had,” he said.

Business has been brisk at the San Luis Obispo restaurant as well as at Jaffa’s second location, at 206 E. Branch St. in Arroyo Grande's Village, which opened about seven months ago. “We exceeded our expectations” there, Saleh said, noting that they were operating in the black from the start.

Jaffa Café employs 14 people; it may hire more if the restaurant decides to stay open past 8 p.m. at the new site, he said.

Saleh signed a standard five-year plus five-year lease with building owner Monterey & Johnson LLC, according to part-owner and architect George Garcia. The site has 2,000 square feet of interior space plus 500 square feet of outdoor patio dining. About 40 parking spaces are available behind the building in addition to street parking.

This story was originally published October 11, 2012 at 6:30 PM with the headline "Jaffa Café in SLO is moving to spot on Monterey Street."