LYNN — Owner Charbel Wehbe hopes that the new Union Cafe in downtown Lynn will offer a local alternative to large corporate coffee chains.
“You already tried Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks,” said Wehbe. “It’s time to change. Change is good.”
The cafe, located at 1 Central Square, opened a month ago, replacing a Dunkin’ Donuts which previously operated at the site.
The menu offers a variety of drinks, breakfast sandwiches, pastries, which guests can enjoy inside the redesigned shop or at one of the several tables that Wehbe intend to put outside once the weather improves.
Wehbe, who lives on the North Shore says he got into the restaurant industry because he “(likes) to feed people.” He worked in Lynn at a pizza shop for more than a decade, working long hours and saving money until he could open his own shop.
Now that it is open, Wehbe says that he intends to run the Union Cafe “forever.”
Despite the desirable downtown location, the cafe remains affordable, selling a cup of coffee for $1.89, a croissant for $2.59 and a bacon egg and cheese for $2.75.
For their grand opening sale, which is active until April 16, the cafe offered a bagel with cream cheese for 99 cents.
“Why do I need to charge people more?” said Wehbe. “I don’t care about money. I care about quality and service.”
In the future, Wehbe plans to initiate a point system for returning customers. For every dollar spent, he says, customers will receive a point. They can cash in 30 points for a free coffee and 35 points for a breakfast sandwich. He also plans to introduce ice cream to his menu soon.
Wehbe hopes that the Union Cafe will keep bringing guests back with high-quality customer service.
“We want to serve people how they want to be served,” said Wehbe. Wehbe takes the lead on this initiative, greeting customers when they walk through the door and welcoming them to the new restaurant.
The emphasis on service has already begun to reveal itself in the tips Union Cafe employees receive, Charbel says, with each of his workers going home with between 50 and 80 dollars each night.
“I really appreciate them,” said Wehbe of his staff. “Let me tell you, they’re doing a good job.”
He hopes that, once customer’s visit his shop, that the food and service will speak for itself.
“What else can I say?” he said. “Just come.”
