KAFFE BLUE

GOURMET BISTRO

2010-09-06T13:37:00.000-07:00

Kaffe Blue is a gourmet bistro that desires to be the place where friends gather to nourish the body and build relationships.

Kaffe Blue specializes in "gourmet" food with a "city" flair. Our signature recipes for Chicken Salad and Greek Pasta Salad are time-honored and craved daily!

Located on the lower level of the Kingsport Town Center, we serve breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week.

Kaffe Blue also serves Fresh Roasted Fair-Trade Coffee and real fruit Smoothies.

We do not proclaim to be the "fast"est food but look to get food in your hands in a reasonable time.

We hope to meet the needs of your hectic schedule while staying true to our 'made to order" menu.

Applications Accepted JUNE 16 - 12pm until 2pm

2010-06-15T21:50:00.000-07:00

Copy this link and paste in your URL to find an application. Accepting June 16th, 2010 at the Kaffe Blue location 2101 Fort Henry Drive, Kingsport Town Center.

https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AYjacT5Cq1l-ZGZqaGttaHdfMmR0Y3Y4NmQz&hl=en

Applications Being Accepted

2010-06-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

NEW LOCATION!

2010-05-11T21:46:00.000-07:00

It is really happening! Finally, Kaffe Blue has a place to land and get that awesome food back in action. I am excited about what is in store and I can not wait to see everyone. The opportunity to open in the Kingsport Town Center is a great one. We will continue to take our time to locate the downtown location. We have learned a lot in the past few years, one being DONT RUSH SOMETHING THAT MUST NOT BE READY TO HAPPEN. The mall is giving us this great moment in time so that we can find the perfect spot for Kaffe Blue downtown. I have missed you all and look forward to serving you once again with the Kaffe Blue team. Look for an updated menu coming soon, due to the space we have cut some things at this location but you will find that most of the favorites are staying put. CHICKEN SALAD CROISSANT and GREEK PASTA SALAD of course being the main 2!

Talk with you soon!

Michele Mitchell

Time keeps on ticking.....

2010-02-25T19:29:00.000-08:00

Time keeps on ticking and with that, my mind is expanding with thoughts for the future of Kaffe Blue. I am learning that even the best plans can be halted due to circumstances uncontrolled. I know that all things do happen for a reason and i want to make the most of that in every area of my life. With that in mind I am considering moving forward with TWO locations for Kaffe Blue. One in a commercial space with some of the original menu items, Second, my primary goal, the downtown location with an expanded TAPAS MENU. It is a challenge to think of running TWO restaurants but the thought really excites me.

So, what you think?

On the waiting list.....

2010-02-02T23:45:00.000-08:00

Well I sure thought we would be breaking some ground right now with the kitchen buildout. I had no idea so much mess could come from buying a building. At this point I am ready to go with money in the bank, other matters however are not ready and I have no control over them. Yes, that is the killer wait that I am experiencing. I am ready to be open and having a great time with all our customers. I look forward to all parties walking away with a success story in the adventure but until them I will stay positive and hopeful.

In the meantime:

Go check out La Campina Mexican Grill on Broad Street. Great food and friendly people.

Seeing it in print feels so good.....

2010-01-23T15:43:00.000-08:00

I was excited to see the article in the Kingport Times News. I hated the thought that people believed we were closed forever and not just relocating. Sharon did a great job and I am thankful for her willingness to spread the word for us. After being raised here in Kingsport and watching as our great city changes and grows I am honored to be a part of its future. Thank all of you who support us with your positive attitude and continual belief in a successful future.

Getting the word out!

2010-01-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

Kaffe Blue is advancing closer to our goal every week and getting the word out to the public will be key to our continual success. Social Media is a wonderful thing. I post a comment on facebook and 400 of my closest friends are aware of my status. I post a comment on twitter and 125 know my status. With twitter the RT (retweet) gets my comment to 150 of their closest friends. Word of mouth is great also but it seems to turn in to the telephone game sometimes. Some said, Kaffe Blue was moving to the Kingsport Town Center. Another rumor was said that we were dropping the menu and creating all new items. At one point, we were closing and re opening in the Caribbean where it is summer all the time. OK, I was the one who said that but you get my drift.

We were in need of a source that could communicate with thousands of people. Give a simple history of who we are and what our plans for the future look like.

The wonderful people at Kingsport TImes News will be giving us that opportunity. A story on Kaffe Blue will run in a couple of weeks in the Sunday Money section. This will give the public the right statement to repeat and the buzz for our future will continue along with the momentum we had in 2009.

Update:

Binder contract has been signed and holding $ accepted. ECU had pre-approved our loan. An appraisal has been ordered for 133 Broad Street. Now we wait on the appraisal numbers to come in and a closing date will be set.

We have our blade sign and will install it as soon as the deed is in our hands.

Keep talking people and help us get the word out!

No Cooked Goose Here

2010-01-01T21:06:00.000-08:00

Well it happened today. We officially closed Kaffe Blue doors located at 210 Broad Street. As we packed all the stuff (and can I take a minute to say STUFF one more time and in all caps), a special thank you to all those that helped Mark and my dad carry heavy equipment! I was caught off guard by the emotional response I experienced knowing I would not be in a kitchen for months. I walked through the dining room and the echo of the empty room made me shutter. For a moment I was concerned that my goose was cooked. What am I doing? Will people just wait patiently? Will anyone remember what they loved about Kaffe Blue? Will the next space meet the expectations for creating a beautiful atmosphere? I believe yes is the answer to all those questions. First, my family is taking steps to grow Kaffe Blue to another level of dining for downtown Kingsport. Second, anticipation only makes the moment sweeter when we open our doors again. Third, who can forget about chicken salad and greek pasta salad! And lastly, 133 Broad Street is a great building, just wait!

Today a door is closing and with it great memories and experiences, but a new one is opening and in it is an exciting adventure that I will get to share with many people. I love my city and all the people that make owning a restaurant a wonderful career. Ok, here we go! Cross those fingers for a smooth purchase.

What is Happening....

2009-12-14T11:00:00.001-08:00

The question of the day concerning Kaffe Blue!
This has been a great year for us and I have enjoyed meeting "you", our customers, very much. When the opportunity came to buy Kaffe Blue I was astounded. For us to be able to take an existing concept and make plans for its next steps was a wonderful opportunity that I did not want to miss.

THE PLAN:
1. To buy on February 2nd 2009 and Open February 3rd 2009.
2. Open the private rooms for meetings and private events.
3. Introduce Lunch Box catering in our stamped "green" packaging.
4. To stay open later with a select menu and open on Saturdays with a hot breakfast.
5. To open with a limited pasta based dinner menu on Thursday and Friday Nights.
6. Offer LIVE JAZZ in the evenings to compliment the concert series happening outside.
7. Get our beer, wine and liquor licence.
8. Upgrade the power supply currently (300amps; need 800amps for a restaurant)
9. Install an exhaust hood so that we could operate as a full service restaurant.
10. Purchase kitchen equipment to prepare meals for large seating capacity.
11. Redesign the egress and install a sprinkle system so that more than 92 people could utilize the large dining room space.

Excitingly most of the plan has come to pass. I have enjoyed our jazz most of all and am thankful to have hosted such wonderful musicians.

However, sadly the crucial elements have not come to pass.
The cost of upgrades for the building to create the volume needed to sustain the fixed cost (lease, utilities) was too great for us or the owners of the building.

We, as well as the Allens have worked very hard to find a way to stay in the building. However, the current economic environment has put some restraints on the upgrades which make this impossible.

We understand that Kaffe Blue is a perfect restaurant for downtown Kingsport and we are working hard every day to create a solution that will move us towards future success.

THE SOLUTION:
1. Find and purchase our own building so that upgrade investments go toward the equity of the restaurant.
2. Purchase kitchen equipment to operate a full service restaurant.
3. Re open as soon as possible so that the great city of Kingsport and surrounding areas can enjoy our famous chicken salad and greek pasta salad!
4. Develop an evening concept that features a Wine and Tapas Bar

GOOD NEWS:
So far we have located a building: 133 Broad Street, beside of Stir Fry. The beautiful 3 storey building, with its balcony doors will be a great location for Kaffe Blue and its future.
We are currently in the process of negotiating for that space and look to own it in January 2010 if everything goes as planned.

Kitchen equipment has been purchased and is ready to be installed in our new home.
Build out estimated to take 4 months with our re-open date being near April 2010.

Evening Concept is a vision in my mind, it will be a great addition to the night dining for downtown Kingsport with sweet sounds of jazz as you enjoy a light dinner in a social environment.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR NOW:
Kaffe Blue will host our Christmas Yuletide Jazz event on Friday Night December 18th. This will officially be the last day Kaffe Blue serves full meals in its curent location.

However, we will be open till December 29th with our Fresh Roasted Coffee and Select Menu.

Thank you for your support and in making us a successful restaurant. We hope to serve you again soon and exceed the expectations that we have placed on our future!

Kaffe Blue

2009-12-14T10:40:00.001-08:00

The place to learn all the facts about Kaffe Blue and what is in store.