Mocha Lisa’s Caffe marks renovations
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. » Small business owner Kari Cook admits she had a vision of what she wanted for her business long before she had the keys to the establishment.
When she bought the wellknown Mocha Lisa’s Caffé, 22 Clifton Country Road, in Clifton Park Center, two-and-a-half years ago Cook knew she wanted the business to have more of a presence in the community.
After updating the menu, booking musical entertainment and adding beer, ale, wine, and hard cider, Cook took on the aesthetic changes. Last week she celebrated the completion of her vision.
Standing behind the bar with her staff and surrounded by members of the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County, she cut the ribbon on the renovated establishment.
“Kari has done a wonderful job in keeping her business fresh and current, in serving her customers, and supporting all of the business community,” said chamber President and CEO Pete Bardunias. “The changes she’s made make Mocha Lisa’s more competitive with the other establishments in town and adds to the restaurant feel.”
After the ribbon cutting, Cook pointed out some of the aesthetic changes she made. There are some that are decorative and others, like the two hand painted rectangular tables, have a purpose.
“Those came from the old St. Coleman’s Home for Children,” Cook said. “They were originally doors that had been repurposed as tables and they were not being used. They were stored in the basement. I heard about them and sought them out long before I had any idea of buying Mocha Lisa’s. I just knew I’d use them for something in the future. They were painted by the kids who lived there.”
After a number of years in the insurance business, Cook said she gravitated back to an industry she knew well, hospitality.
“I knew this business because I put myself through college working in restaurants and country clubs,” she said. “I found I wanted
that youthful, energetic environment. And I wanted to be part of the community. I wanted a place where people could meet, get something good to eat, have a drink and hear some music.”
Mocha Lisa’s is all that and more. There are art works on the walls by local artists that are available for purchase, Wi-Fi, a cell phone app for ordering, a designated meeting room, acoustic music three times a week, an open mic night, an expanded menu, and a happy hour.
“From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday it’s $2 off all alcoholic drinks,” Cook said. “Were else can you go and get a beer for $3?”
The food menu includes many of the same items it once did but they have been tweaked and given a more home-made touch.
There are croissant and bagel sandwiches, wraps, and paninis, flat bread sandwiches, salads, soups, quiche, starter plates and smoothies. And, since it is a café, there are a wide variety of teas and coffees.
“We added the starter plates, the flat breads, and the shareables,” Cook said. “We do all our own baking and most of the sauces, dressings and chais are made here too.”
In discussing the final piece of the renovation, the bar/counter, Cook said it was installed in late November, just before the holidays.
“It replaced the glass pastry cases,” she said. “We had it all finished and in by Thanksgiving.”
One of the latest additions to the business is online ordering with curbside pickup.
“Right now it’s underutilized, but we expect it to pick up,” Cook said. “There’s no minimum order. You order, drive over, pull up to the curb right in front, and come in and pick it up. It’s where the millennials are at.”
Looking around her establishment with its works of art, small table settings, bar and bar chairs, and a busy meeting room where a beer sampling was drawing a crowd Cook seemed pleased with her completed vision.
Asked if what she had in mind all along was actually an independent, retro, New York coffee house with a liquor license, she nodded in agreement.
“In Clifton Park,” she added.
Mocha Lisa’s Caffé is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.