Arizona Coffee

Just saw this and had to post it:

New owners promise not to change Cave Creek Coffee Co.

Beth Duckett
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 5, 2007 03:32 PM

CAVE CREEK - When David and Anita Anderson launched the Cave Creek Coffee Co. in 1998, they envisioned a homey locale with good brew and a cozy feel.

Nine years later, it has become a spirited landmark.

Situated in the town’s downtown corridor, the company - called “C4″ by the younger crowd - has captured the likings of Valley residents looking for fruity salads, fine wines and, of course, fresh coffee.

Now the Andersons are selling the café after finalizing a divorce last month and are working on separate endeavors, Anita said.

Many patrons who frequent the café for its homemade grub and live music ask what’s next when the company comes under new ownership this month.

They have nothing to worry about, said soon-to-be-owner Todd Newman.

“Our plan is to operate it as it’s been operating,” Newman said.

Newman, along with wife Rose and collaborators Dawson and Natalie Dopp, want to maintain the café’s friendly atmosphere and rustic milieu.

“We completely plan on keeping all the same type of menus and same food,” Todd said.

The two couples, who live in Cave Creek, plan to hang on to the company’s 40 employees and weekly customs, including wine tastings and performances by local musicians.

“We completely plan on keeping all the same type of menus and same food,” Todd said. Kristen Yates, a barista at the coffee counter, said the changes could be “empowering” for employees.

“You can make suggestions about how things should be,” Yates said.

Barista Bud Bennett said it doesn’t matter what happens as long as the regulars are happy.

“We’ll see a car pull up . . . and we’ll have that person’s drink ready before they even get in,” Bennett said. “If there are too many changes, the regulars will probably be more upset than we are.”

A place that’s special
After landing Phoenix Magazine’s “Best Coffeehouse” award last year, it is clear Cave Creek Coffee Co. & Wine Purveyors has something special.

For many, it is a respite in a world full of cookie-cutter cafes and corporate coffee magnates. Stepping foot inside its rustic walls, you know a lot of love went into its creation.

“It’s our gem in the desert,” Anita said.

It started in 1998, when David Anderson built the double-sided venue from scratch, he said.

He opened the coffee bar and lounge section on the west side of the building in 1999. The wine bar and restaurant, including a full menu with spicy salads and handcrafted pizza, were revealed later, along with an outdoor music venue.

“It’s been an evolutionary thing,” David said. “It’s very sentimental.”

Now, the Andersons are branching out individually.

Anita, 56, plans to travel and start up another enterprise, she said.

David, 52, already has his hands full with a local venture called FireCreek Coffee.

The business, at Cave Creek Road and 65th Street, roasts and distributes fresh coffee to venues across the Valley, including C4.

“We import green coffee from a variety of brokers . . . and we roast the coffee here in site,” David said. “It’s something that’s been in the works for the last 12 to 18 months.”

The Andersons said they look forward to a little change in the daily grind.

“It’s like the second chapter in a book,” Anita said. “Life’s too short. It’s time to do something new.”