Kari Cook is the owner of MochaLisa\u2019s Caffe in Clifton Park.
\u00a92018 Saratoga Photographer.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBy Jill Nagy<\/p>\n
A combination of hard work, ambition, and a creative menu have helped Kari Cook, owner of MochaLisa\u2019s Caffe in Clifton Park, to succeed, despite a Starbucks drive-through almost next door and another independent coffee shop across the street.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had to really capitalize on some of the things that we have,\u201d said Cook, the owner of the restaurant at 22 Clifton Country Road in Clifton Park.<\/span><\/p>\n
The restaurant has evolved from mostly a spot for morning coffee to more of a lunch and evening venue, offering paninis and wraps. Flat breads and soups are coming to the menu with onset of cooler weather.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
MochaLisa\u2019s was founded 11 years ago by Michael Seriani. Cook bought into the business three years ago and has been the sole owner since last July. The first three years were \u201ca trial for me,\u201d she said, because she had never owned a bricks and mortar restaurant before. Her most recent career was as an independent insurance representative. Before that, she worked as a florist, a nanny, and a child care worker. She is a graduate of Hudson Valley Community College and Russell Sage College.<\/span><\/p>\n
Like many college students, Cook worked restaurant jobs but was, pretty much, a novice going into the MochaLisa Caffe business. She and a friend were eying vacant space next door for a possible wine bar and tapas restaurant. They took some business courses and made some plans but were unable to raise the necessary capital. Their potential landlord suggested talking to Seriani, who wanted to phase out of the MochaLisa business.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cWe developed a rapport,\u201d she recalled, and, pretty soon, they had a contract.<\/span><\/p>\n
Cook was well into plans for remodeling the building and developing a new menu when she became pregnant with her third child, who is now 20 months old.<\/span><\/p>\n
Her husband, Chad Tourtellot, was her \u201cmaster construction worker, and fixer,\u201d she said. \u201cI couldn\u2019t do it without him.\u201d He fixed ovens, tightened loose chair legs and fastened chandeliers. \u201cThe scope of what he has done is awesome.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n
She credits a \u201cgreat crew of staff,\u201d comprising 10 employees, most of them part time, with giving her the flexibility to manage the cafe and her family responsibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n
MochaLisa\u2019s Caffe has live music several times a week and they serve beer and wine.\u00a0 <\/span>In addition, the cafe has space for meetings and also offers catering.<\/span><\/p>\n
Cook said that her greatest obstacle in developing the business was \u201cgetting to know how to run a business,\u201d but she expected that.<\/span><\/p>\n
MochaLisa\u2019s Caffe is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 9 a.m. to\u00a0 <\/span>5 p.m. on Sunday. The telephone number is 518-383-5373.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Jill Nagy A combination of hard work, ambition, and a creative menu have helped Kari Cook, owner of MochaLisa\u2019s Caffe in Clifton Park, to succeed, despite a Starbucks drive-through almost next door and another independent coffee shop across the street. \u201cWe\u2019ve had to really capitalize on some of the things that we have,\u201d said […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-entrepreneurial-women"],"yoast_head":"\r\n
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