WHITE ROCK CAFE is reborn as a VIETNAMESE DRINKING BAR

[ncvl3615]

Discussion as posted on the Alum Rock Neighborhood Network (ARNNE) Yahoo Group

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A while back, the Thai White Rock Cafe closed its doors. A new
establishment has opened in its place this week. I went in to eat
dinner tonight. The waitress seemed shocked to see me. Here's the
conversation:

ME : Hi, table for four please
WAITRESS: You looking for restaurant?
ME : Yes, table for four please.
WAITRESS: This is no more restaurant, now Vietnamese Drinking Bar
ME : Uh, can I see a menu?
WAITRESS: No English menu.
ME : OK, show me the Vietnamese menu. (She hands one to me).
WAITRESS: This only drinks.
ME : Riiiight, where is the owner?

MONICA: I'm the owner.
ME : Do you have a license to operate a bar?
MONICA: Yes, I have a beer and wine license.
ME : But that a beer and wine license that goes with a restaurant,
not a bar.
MONICA: This is a restaurant.
ME : No it's not. There is no menu. There are no place settings on
the tables. There are several big screen TVs with scores on them. And
the waitress is a cocktail waitress.

How did this pass through without scrutiny? And the landlord didn't
stop this either?

[ncvl3615]

I guess ‘coffee shop’ doesn’t have the same meaning for me as it does these gentleman who have reviewed Miss Café on Yelp.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/miss-cafe-san-jose

So, I guess they do serve food but it doesn’t seem to be the main attraction. This is sad.
--
Andrea

[ncvl3615]

This (below) taken from one reviewer --obviously someone who cares deeply about this neighborhood. Unreal.

And to think the high school is literally just across the street from this place. Now this new one in the Village? And yet even a third place right next door to Wheel Works on Alum. So what's that, 3 of these joints in a 1 mile span?

Lovely.

"I went there on a Monday around noon. One thing I liked is that at that time, there were about 6 girls working. I like there to be lots of them and there were. More than any other Vietnamese Cafe I've seen....There were also a few not so good ones, not quite coffee shop quality, but even those ones were still OK. The only problem is too much clothes, or the clothes aren't small enough. Sexy, but not sexy enough. About average as far as this kind of place goes. I had the beef stew which was good, but not great. I don't really go to those places for the food anyway." -Henri C.

[Joe Hill]

I think you're (those against Miss Cafe) all overreacting. There's nothing wrong with Miss Cafe. Miss Cafe is a very nice place to enjoy a cup of coffee or other non alcoholic drink. I think Miss Cafe is less dangerous than a Safeway that sells alcohol & tobacco. No alcohol at Miss Cafe. At least not the one time I was there. I don't think any of the coffee shops sell alcohol. I have only been there once, but will go back for sure and also I'll have to check out Thien Y. Thanks for the tip. It looks like the Mercury News gave Miss Cafe a very nice free ad. It would probably cost thousands of $$ to get that if you had to pay. This message board is doing well too. All the guys I work with are talking about the Mercury article. I told them "yes, that's one of the places I told you about". I have been to several of the East San Jose "coffee shops". Probably about 50 times total, at least 8 different cafe's. I have not once seen or heard any evidence of these places being "whorehouses". I get asked that by most guys when I tell them of the places. "Not as far as I know". I tell them. Just wishful thinking on their part. Maybe I just don't have the right look to be propositioned. Maybe I look like vice squad? I'm not saying I know 100% of what happens there. I'm just telling what has not happened to me. If you want to do something good, why don't you try to close down a WalMart? Get out ther with picket signs. The one in Gilroy or on/near Story Rd San Jose? How about the Mi Pueblo? At least the Miss Cafe employees get a decent wage.

[ncvl3615]

Quan Ca-Fe is the Vietnamese term for coffee bar.

Here's the Wikipedia on it:
Vietnamese coffee shops or Vietnamese cafes, otherwise known as Quan Ca-Fe, are coffee shops in the Orange County area of California that feature scantily clad women who serve $5 cups of coffee, tea, or juice. They are a tradition brought over from Vietnam. The women usually are very attractive, and wear very short skirts and high heels, and are usually of Vietnamese heritage, but may be Chinese, Korean, White, or hispanic as well. There are about 20 of these types of establishments in Westminster and Garden Grove, with some being more popular than others. They usually have tinted windows in the front and have a minimum age of 18 for entry into the shop. By law they are required to close by 11:30 pm. They usually feature big screen TVs for customers to watch sports. They also sell tickets for the California lotteries. Most also have touch screen video arcade games. And most offer free Wi-Fi access. Music is played throughout the day, ranging from dance, hip-hop, to pop music from Vietnam, of which most of the melodies have been copied over from Chinese Pop Music. Although most shops have non smoking signs posted up, many customers do smoke inside and is a cause for concern for inhaling second hand smoke.

[ncvl3615]

I called Ryan Ford and spoke with him for a good 45 mins earlier this am.

The short of the long is he and his office are very much tuned into the challenges here in our neighborhood. And in the case of this new restaurant, they're having code enforcement review if this place was ever granted a conditional use permit, which as we now know, is required of them. They're also asking San Jose PD to look into some additional things.

I gotta say I was pleasantly surprised that Ryan could reel off the top of his head so many instances where they've been trying to get good developers to latch on to Alum Rock Village. Contrary to what some may think, there's a lot of interest to develop there. The challenge is largely the current owners. Some owners say they are more than happy to sell to a developer, who is stepping in willingly knowing that major improvements are necessary, only to pull out at the last minute (or get even greedier and try to up the asking price at the 11th hr).

There are too many current owners of property in the Village area that just flat out don't care enough about this area to do anything --or help bring about positive change. And it's lousy for those owners who do live in our area and in fact do care a lot about what happens to the Village. Why is a Starbucks finally coming in? Because the previous owner FINALLY sold to this new developer, who had Starbucks lined up and ready to go. Will Starbucks succeed, well I guess that's largely up to us --by the way there's plenty of parking in the lot behind the storefronts.

Did you know that the avg household income within a mile or two radius of our "downtown" is actually higher than the same respective area in Willow Glen? Or that the Target off Story Rd is now one of the most successful in all of San Jose. And the new Home Depot is soon to have that similar distinction?

It's nice to see some more fire-in-the- belly from the neighborhood, hopefully this carries over to the next ARNC meeting and we see more than a half dozen neighbors show up. Ryan Ford commented that the entire office over there is very much familiar with ARNC and quite impressed with its voice. Major kudos to David and rest of the folks involved.

-Joe

[JB]

Miss Cafe's Response

The following is a general response to the various Emails listed regarding the Miss Cafe Resturant. Starting a new business is always a challenge. The starting of Miss Cafe has been no different. Miss Cafe is meeting the growing pains with professional repsonses to address all concerns. The following is a brief description of Miss Cafe.

1. Miss Cafe is a resturant
2. Miss Cafe provides beverage drinks including traditional Vietnamese coffees, teas, smoothies and fresh juices
3. Miss Cafe provides a variety of entrees that include, meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu is growing every day to meet the requests of the community
4. Miss Cafe is not a Denny's nor did we intend to open a Denny's
5. Miss Cafe provides a traditional environment with table service by waitresses, any comparrisions to negative sterotypes beyond that description are not accurate.
6. We welcome all Alum Rock neighbors to come and enjoy our hospitality.
7. If you have specific questions you may contact Minh Ly at [e-mail]

As in any new business Miss Cafe is working with the City of San Jose to ensure a good working relationship with the City and the Community. Miss Cafe came to this area to be a good neighbor. Please send any comments that you may have, and Miss Cafe will answer them immediately.

Thank you

JB

[Raquel]

Hello, I just read today's newspaper. Saw that there is an article about MISS CAFE. I live directly accross the street from there. I also see the types of things going on, mentioned in today's paper. In and outside the establishment. I don't like what I see that goes on there. I also heard from a inside source. That there is talk about buying the family restraunt next to Kelly Moore and turning it into a cafe like MISS CAFE's. If you ask me, I think there is something more going on at this place. Then just coffee and tea!