In the business space that used to house Happy Dogs, Hollister
resident Lupe Velazquez is settling into a new life as an
entrepreneur. Although the 37-year-old owner is still reworking her
menu and figuring out promotional deals, business at Roxy’s Lil
Cafe is slowly picking up since opening three months ago, said
Velazquez. Located at 441 San Benito Street, the cafe is
Velazquez’s second attempt as a business owner and she is thrilled
about the contribution it can make to downtown businesses, she
said.
Hollister – In the business space that used to house Happy Dogs, Hollister resident Lupe Velazquez is settling into a new life as an entrepreneur. Although the 37-year-old owner is still reworking her menu and figuring out promotional deals, business at Roxy’s Lil Cafe is slowly picking up since opening three months ago, said Velazquez. Located at 441 San Benito Street, the cafe is Velazquez’s second attempt as a business owner and she is thrilled about the contribution it can make to downtown businesses, she said.
“I think it’s something that’s good for Hollister,” said Velazquez. “There is no place to get hot-dogs of this quality here.”
Keeping with the tradition of Happy Dogs, which went out of business in 2004, Roxy’s menu features several types of all-beef hot dogs, as well as chili, wraps and a taco salad. On Fridays, Velazquez makes clam chowder, which she serves in bread bowls and is hoping to sell old-fashioned dipped ice cream bars in several months.
“I’m working with different tastes to figure out what we will have,” she said.
Velazquez moved to Hollister five years ago, after living in San Jose and San Luis Obispo. She ran her first business, a day care center, for three years before realizing she needed more time for her family.
“I liked that I didn’t have to report to a director but the hours weren’t very good,” she said. Now, she works six days a week, but her hours have been reduced. Roxy’s is open 10-5:30pm during the week and 11-3pm on Saturdays.
Velazquez has big plans for the cafe. She wants to introduce frozen yogurt into the menu and starting in May, hold art night once a month to give local kids a chance to do art projects, which eventually will be sold at her store. Proceeds would go directly to kids’ college funds, she said.
“I can’t stop (working with kids). It’s in my blood,” she said. Velazquez studied child development at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and worked with pre-school and kindergarten-aged children for many years.
In addition to the hot dogs, wraps and soups, Roxy’s also offers free Internet use to its customers.
Karina Ioffee covers education and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected]
