We recently connected with Julie Moreno and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Julie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Jewel’s Bakery and Café started in my kitchen as Jewel’s Cupcake Shop in 2011. Elementary school teacher by trade, I was faced with my daughter having severe allergies to gluten and other food. The gluten free food in 2011 was hard to find and over-sugared or just plain awful. I always baked and cooked, coming from a long line of restaurant owners, so I took to experimenting in the kitchen. Long story short I was blessed to be able to open up Jewel’s Bakery and Café to feed the community safe and allergen friendly food. That has been our mission from the start and through the years we have gained so much popularity we feel the need to expand to serve the nation. Everyone Deserves a “Jewel” was my motto from the start and partnering with an amazing franchise consultant is making this opportunity a reality. In the coming year we will be expanding throughout Arizona and then venturing out to other states. Jewel’s believes no one should feel anxiety about being able to eat safe food with family and friends. I am so elated to be able to make this a reality in more places than just Phoenix!
Julie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Jewel’s menu has evolved over the years based on customer demands. Our “Fried Chicken and Waffles” has proven to be a staple on our menu. Other comfort foods like green chili pork smothered burritos, biscuits and gravy, and AZ hot fried chicken sandwiches are a close second. Healthier options like my fave “Thai Basil Peanut Chicken Salad” and “Caprese Avo Toast’ hit the spot. We also have a pastry case filled with rotating desserts that include eclairs, Paris-brest, vegan trifles, cheesecakes and more. Press cold brew or Lattes pair perfectly with our scones and muffins. We have expanded our dog-friendly patio and maximized our indoor space to serve more customers. Our flour blend is amazing as well as our other line of mixes that we will be introducing to the public in the coming months! Lots of exciting things to come.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Being a mother of six and running a restaurant has been a juggling act. I am lucky to have amazing family that are supportive. Making time for my family while running Jewels is very important to me. Short family getaways and family gatherings are what hold us together.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My father being ill forced me to step away from the café to run his business and care for him in 2020. Finding the right person to trust in management was the hardest struggle. Trusting the wrong person almost led to the café closing its doors 2 years ago. Not being afraid to get ride of toxic employees was and is a critical part of running our business successfully. Luckily, we were able to bounce back and move forward stronger than ever. My staff and manager now are the best they have ever been. Showing appreciation for my staff and acknowledging that they are an important part of the business is key.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jewelsbakeryandcafe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewelsgfcafe/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jewelsgfcafe/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jewels-bakery-and-cafe-phoenix-4?osq=jewel%27s+bakery