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Times-shamrock communiTy newspapers 149 Penn Avenue Scranton, PA 18503 Phone: (570) 207-3473 Fax: (570) 207-3448 E-mail: triborobanner@ timesshamrock.com
January 15, 2015
www.thetriborobanner.com
‘Living His Dream’
ON THE INSIDE Keep an eye on crime where you live Page 2
BANNER
West Side native opens up cafe on Jackson Street by Shannon C. Keith
TRIBORO BANNER EDITOR
It may have taken awhile, but West Side native Charlie Davis is now “living his dream.” “It just made sense,” he said, taking a minute from his post behind the grill at Charlie’s West Side Cafe, located at 1109 Jackson St. “When I heard about this place, with the apartment upstairs and opportunity to be my own boss, I had to go for it.” In a day-and-age when the U.S. Small Business Administration recently blogged on its website sba.gov, “starting your own business may be one of the biggest risks you will take in your life — and statistics confirm it,” Davis jumped in his small business headfirst, despite the risk and obstacles. A veteran, who served for 14 years in the army, was honorably discharged in 2006. He went to Keystone College and completed a four-year bachelor’s degree in two-and-a-half years in psychology and social science. He then went on to work in car sales for a while, but found he wasn’t quite as good as his older brother. Owning a restaurant, and more importantly cooking, was always calling to him. “I had worked in restaurants when I was younger, of course, starting out as a dishwasher,” he said. “But then I started getting a chance to cook and learn and it took hold.” With the help of friends, many who either served with or worked with Davis, and his family, he transformed the interior to match the color of West Side School. The only thing missing right now is his outdoor sign, which Davis said will come. “It’s hard, in Scranton especially, to open, let alone run, a business, but we’ll get the sign up,” he said. “There are so many permitting rules and extra obstacles.” The menu at Charlie’s West Side Cafe is stacked with familiar breakfast and lunch items, although Davis is beginning to dabble with baking, posting many of his daily temptations on the cafe’s Facebook page.
TS_CNG/TRIBORO/PAGES [T01] | 01/14/15
10:30 | KEITHSHANN
From left: Nancy Davis, Charlie Davis and Quieralyn Davis.
“Baking is something I’m starting to do and it’s been going well,” he said. Coffee is 75 cents a cup with any order and the specials change daily. He’s also begun accepting credit and debit cards, with a nominal bill. “We’re not here to overcharge and cook food that’s just okay,” Davis added. “We’re here to cook good, homemade food that’s af-
PHOTO SHANNON C. KEITH
fordable. I won’t put anything in front of anybody if it’s not how I would like to see it or how I would like to eat it.” Charlie’s West Side Cafe is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and posts photos of daily specials online. For more information, call 570-703-0338 or find them on Facebook at facebook.com/ Charlieswestsidecafe.