, 15525 Los Gatos Blvd., suite C, has been serving coffee in Los Gatos for 15 years, since 1997. Formerly located in the Shopping Center, it moved Feb. 1, 2011 to its current location across the street, in the New Town Center, next to and Fed Ex. Blvd Coffee serves espresso drinks, fair-trade, organic coffees, and brew-by-the-cup specialty coffees. It offers a full breakfast and lunch menu, all cooked to order. To finish it all off, you can get a delicious gelato, too. Blvd Coffee is open 6:30 a.m.- 6 p.m., Monday- Friday; 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, and 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Sunday.
Los Gatos Patch: What did you dream of being as a kid?
Humberto Olvera: As a child I dreamed of being a pilot. I think what appealed to me was being independent in my business. I’m not a pilot, but I am independent!
Patch: How does your personality play into your business?
Olvera: As a coffee shop owner, you have to be friendly, almost like a bartender. I think I’m pretty friendly and I can hold conversations with all of my customers. It helps that so many of my customers have become my friends over the years.
Patch: At what moment did you decide to open a business?
Olvera: My first wife, Tami Olvera, always had the dream of opening her own coffee shop. The idea of owning our own business also became my dream. After she passed away in 2006, the coffee shop and our community are part of what got me through each day. When I remarried, I was lucky enough to meet my wife, Christina, who loved the shop just as much as we did and is extremely helpful and supportive in the day to day business.
Patch: What inspired you?
Olvera: What inspired me was Tami’s dream of owning a coffee shop and my dream of being an independent business owner.
Patch: Describe the biggest challenge of owning a business in the Town
of Los Gatos?
Olvera: The biggest challenge is our customers’ high expectations for us. This has also been a source of inspiration. To meet their expectations we have raised our standard of excellence.
Patch: Describe the best thing about owning a business in the town of Los Gatos?
Olvera: We love having our shop in Los Gatos. We relocated last year and in the process, looked at some properties in San Jose and Campbell. Ultimately, we could not leave the town of Los Gatos. We love the community, the people and the small-town feeling. Before finding our new location, we had tremendous support from our customers, the Town Council and many of the local “celebrities.” Los Gatos has the feeling of an old fashioned small town.
Another great thing about owning a business in Los Gatos is the support from the town for independent business owners. We feel very lucky to be in this town alongside several other independent coffee houses. We have been in business for more than 15 years, and have never felt competition. This is the way to support local business. We are grateful to the town for this.
Patch: What is one thing you would never change about your business?
Olvera: We will never change the feeling of community. My wife, Christina, describes it as a village. Our customers are more than just customers, they’re like family. We celebrate birthdays, weddings, engagements, babies, and many other joyous occasions. Many weekends you find little league or soccer parties in our shop. People just feel comfortable here and we welcome them all with open arms.
Patch: What is your business’ greatest asset?
Olvera: It is our customers. We know we would be nothing without them.
Patch: What is your favorite spot in town?
Olvera: Without a doubt, Blvd Coffee! Okay, maybe Pageant Grounds where my wife, Christina and I got married.
Patch: What’s one thing the community should know about you?
Olvera: We are proud to offer organic, fair-trade coffee. We also brew specialty coffees by the cup. We offer a full breakfast and lunch menu and delicious gelato classico. Blvd Coffee is like Cheers without the beers. When you’re here, you’re with family.
