SBA loan helped Caffe Sole open new Westminster shop

BOULDER ? Despite the competition with a Starbucks across the street, locally owned Caffe Sole Specialty Coffee has enjoyed steady business at their 637 South Broadway location.

The coffeehouse opened in 1994, serving up tea, coffee, espresso and latte.

In February, owners Suter DuBose and Ashkan Angha were able to open a second store in the Federal Heights Plaza in Westminster with the help of a Small Business Association (SBA) loan of $70,000.

“It’s interesting,” mused Angha. “We have customers who go to both sides. People who live in Westminster might work in Boulder or vice versa. They appreciate (the new location) because they have a place to buy coffee close to home or work.”

According to Angha and DuBose, it’s not just a matter of customer convenience that helped the Boulder Caffe Sole gross between $500,000 and $1 million in 2000.

“It’s the quality and customer service,” Angha said. “There’s also a good ambiance and price. A cup of coffee can be expensive these days. We try to keep (the price) way below average.”

“We have a pride of ownership,” DuBose added. “When you walk into the Caffe, you’ll get a better drink.”

Angha agrees that the products themselves also make a difference.

“We do good lattes with extra shots,” he said. “You get more of a jolt at Caffe Sole. We also have a huge variety of tea.”

The shop also serves Chai, all-natural smoothies, Italian ice with all-natural flavors and frozen mochas, dubbed “divine” by DuBose. “I think they’re our signature drink,” he added.

To accompany the beverages, Caffe Sole serves what DuBose calls “nosh food.”

“It’s really light,” he said, “items like bagels, muffins, after-dinner desserts and breakfast burritos.”

The pair appreciates Boulderites’ support of a hometown shop. Angha feels that they prefer Caffe Sole to larger chains “because we’re a local business,” he said.

“It’s a taste of the soul of the community,” DuBose said. “A franchise is soul-less. I have a lot of concern for the personality of the town. (Chain stores) make me feel hollow. I’m a major advocate of locally owned businesses.”

Adding to the local flavor, the South Broadway store offers outdoor seating with “the best view of the Flatirons,” Angha said. “It’s probably the only coffee shop in Boulder that has that view. It’s a nice place to hang out.”

They have shifted their means of marketing to more effectively reach potential customers. “We used to do a lot with papers and magazines,” Angha said, “but we’re moving away from that. Now we’re focusing on charities and fund-raisers. Hopefully, giving back to the community will work out.”

They are also working on a Web site to give the coffeehouses more exposure.

Between both locations, Caffe Sole employs 25 people. In addition to beverages and food, the Westminster location sells T-shirts, mugs and other gifts. They hope to soon expand the Boulder store to include gift items, too.

One challenge they faced is Boulder city council’s proposed restructuring of his portion of Broadway. “In Boulder, there’s been a lot of restructuring of the city with mixed-use developments,” Angha said. “They were planning to redesign our area, but we fought the city and put an end to that.”

Angha and nearby businesses opposed and put off the restructuring ? for now.

“We just have to change with the times,” he said, “and adapts with what the market needs.”

The partners recognize how the SBA loan helped Caffe Sole grow, and he doesn’t regret taking the step. In fact, they are considering more locations in the future.

“A lot of people ask us to open a location near their home or business,” Angha said. “They’re biased because they’re coming to our shop all the time, but it does give us confidence because we have a good product. The future looks good.”

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