Schmooz Cafe offers services geared toward business people

Starbucks with breakfast, lunch and a view. That's how Wanda Cordero and Douglas Geinzer want their cafe to be known.

Schmooz Cafe at The Lakes (www.schmoozcafe.com), 2902 Lake East Drive, Suite F, opened this spring and is already making a name for itself as a spot for business-types to grab lunch while staying in touch.

Part of staying in touch is access to the Internet and Schmooz has a personal computer with a fast cable connection, free to anyone who wants to browse sites or check their e-mail.

"You don't need to be in the office to be in touch," Cordero said. "What do you need? You need a cell phone and a computer. You can come here with your cell phone and be online with us."

The cafe also has Internet cards available for a fee to plug into a laptop and gain access to the Internet. In the back of the cafe, a meeting room holds 15.

For those nonbusiness types who come for the gourmet coffee, Schmooz lives up to its name with a cozy sofa area that looks out on the lake with plenty of magazines and local newspapers.

The kitschy atmosphere is furthered by a hanging silk Japanese lantern, purple velvet seats around tables for two, even a free-standing Blue Light Special display. On the walls are large pieces of artwork from local artists.

The space was originally a conference room but when it became available, Cordero, who operates her public relations business (Diversified Media Buying Inc.) from an office in the same building, snatched it up to open the cafe.

"Schmoozing and networking, that's what I basically do," Cordero said. "But instead of me going to them and knocking on their doors, it's nice to have people opt to come to me."

On weekends, Cordero often schedules events like a clam bake, barbecue, jazz night and a band for dancing on the plank-board patio. To that end, the shop is installing a permanent dance floor.

A limited menu is offered at the music events. In deference to the heat, the patio is outfitted with a misting system.

The 800-square-foot cafe employs six, all hired not just for their food-service experience but for their overall attitude and friendliness. Schmooz is big on customer service with a smile.

As to the menu, it's evolving as input comes in from customers and relayed to the partners. It currently includes the normal breakfast foods -- muffins, eggs and cereal -- while its lunch offering is heavy on customized sandwiches made with low-fat condiments. Top sellers include the chicken salad sandwich, also available as a salad, and customized three-egg omelets. A chalk board advertises daily specials.

The Schmooz high-end coffee items take up a good part of the menu's back page. The cafe offers punch cards so the eleventh cup of coffee is free.

In the works is a unique plan, having caterers come in to offer their brand of cooking on weekdays. Cordero called it "putting fingers on caterers to bring our food up to another scale."

Perhaps one will offer ethnic food, another, seafood-based items. She said the caterers would be free to decide what will be served.

Schmooz is available for private parties, like the wedding it recently hosted. Cordero and Geinzer supplied the staff and the rest was done by the family's caterer and wedding planner, who knew to hire a cleaning service so the cafe was left spotless.

Although Schmooz was only established recently, the partners have been approached to open another in a casino.


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