We were lucky to catch up with Dani Nissan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Dani thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I took a huge risk when deciding to buy an existing coffee shop during the pandemic with little experience. However, I knew in order to be successful, I had to focus on what I would want when entering a coffee house. This idea led me to concentrate on what I love most: animals and a place to socialize over great food, coffee, and high quality products. From there, the idea of Chiefy Cafe was born from my own pandemic puppy.

I knew quality products, working with small and local businesses, and providing ultimate service was a must, especially during such a volatile time. The business expenses may be higher than that of another shop but I knew the finest products would set the shop apart and leave customers happy.

I also think having a connection or a story to your business propels further ideas and successful thinking. When someone comes to the shop and asks, “Why Chiefy Cafe” or “Is Chiefy a real dog?” I have my answer ready to go! This enables connections with customers and them wanting to know more. It also shows my love for what I do and enables the mission: great food, coffee, and animals!

Also, working with your family or significant other has led to my success. My fiance and I work together, bounce off ideas, and trust one another to make our business the best it can be. We also have a combined passion for this industry and see work as fun not just as work. This has also led to our success and hopefully will continue to move us forward.

Dani , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an immigrant from Iraq who came here as a refugee in 2008. In fact, I landed the day Obama was inaugurated. I spoke zero English, had no connection to the USA, and was a high-school student in El Cajon, CA. I lost my father soon after reaching the USA and became the man of the house at the ripe age of 17. I worked many different jobs and learned English as quickly as possible to support my mom and siblings. Through my time working, I knew I wanted an education. As such, I enrolled and was the first in my family to graduate with my bachelors from National University with a degree in Criminal Justice. My plan was to join the military or become a police officer. to give back to the America that saved myself and my family from a volatile situation. However, soon after, I met my fiance, the pandemic hit, and landed upon an opportunity: buying a coffee shop in the amazing Gaslamp District. Although this was risky given the time period of 2020, I felt this was my calling and I had to give it a shot! Accordingly, all other plans were put on hold and I entered the business owner world. It was scary but with the help of my father-in-law mentoring me, my own will power, and the support provided from the community, I knew I could do it!

Our coffee beans are the highest quality available with a secret recipe made by our local roasters. We serve signature drinks (specific only to our shop) — try the Mexicano Latte — it’s our best seller! We also have partnered with Heavenly Waffles (from Nebraska) and are the sole connection in California. We proudly serve their delicious, gluten-free, protein packed waffles fresh to order. We have customers coming from all over the United States to get their hands on these waffles! Also, our customers rave about our bagel and croissant sandwiches — turkey bacon avocado and the Wow Bagel are a must try. We also combine two different types of acai to make our famous and fan favorite bowls. Everything is fresh and made to order — nothing frozen or pre-made here! This is why when you come to our shop there may be a little wait for our delicious meals.

We are very lucky to have a great and supportive community — check us out on Yelp — we are 5 stars and the reviews speak for themselves! Our employees go through an intense training program and ensure every customer receives the best product at the highest level of service. Also, being a leader instead of a boss has encouraged employee morale and working alongside them when we are overall busy also shows the compassion and the love for this business.

We also have been named San Diego’s Most Dog Friendly — we love our furry friends and will always bring your pup a Chiefaccino to accompany you and your own treats! Our customers and their pups are our biggest concern and we always want to ensure they start (or end) their day with a friendly smile and great, high quality products.

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.

I met my business partner three years ago on the Hinge dating site (yes, really!) In our early months together, we would always make jokes and through some jealousy state, “I don’t even care!” Ironically, this simple, joking phrase is now one of the most photogenic areas in downtown San Diego and our motto here at Chiefy Cafe! Come by the shop, see the wall, let us get you some great coffee, and get a photo with your pup and the sign!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I have learned great marketing through my experience working in other industries, seen mistakes made, and learned from those errors to come up with great ideas. I try to come up with new ways to use our products and our store to further our success. My puppy, Chiefy, also makes several appearances in all marketing, social media, and promotions to remind everyone we are the most dog friendly shop in San Diego! We also have a “puppy drive-thru” filled with water and treats to ensure your pup feels welcomed and enjoys his or her time with us.

It is also dire to provide the ultimate level of customer service and high quality products to ensure growth. We offer loyalty programs for our regulars, have customized dog toys, leashes, and t-shirts for all those who want to bring Chiefy home. We also have partnered with a Colombian company who makes our personalized Chiefy Cafe mugs and bowls. This Company hires single women to create these handmaid products and bring them to our shop and even your own home.

I always try to think of new ideas, read the market, speak with customers, and brainstorm the best options for growth. I have had several issues with other shops taking these ideas and trying to use them as their own. However, I have not been discouraged and instead, with the help of my team and the community, continued to progress and strive to bring the best possible products to the community. I believe this resilience has been vital in furthering the success of the shop.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chiefycafe.com/
• Instagram: chiefycafe
• Facebook: chiefycafe
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chiefy-cafe-san-diego-2