The new owner of Coffees, Etc., Miguel Hernandez Jr., left, stands with employees Alison Schulz, center, and Josh Tippee at the counter of the coffee shop. (Marc Lutz/News-Sentinel)

High-octane spirit

20-year-old becomes new owner of Lodi's Coffee's, Etc.

When meeting 20-year-old Miguel Hernandez Jr., one sees a soft-spoken, thoughtful young man. What isn't immediately noticeable is his tenacity and perseverance.

Yet those are the qualities Hernandez employed to become the new owner of Coffees, Etc. at 1040 W. Kettleman Lane, in the Vineyard Shopping Center.

Hernandez, of Lodi, and his silent partner Ryan Sonnenberg, of Santa Rosa, took over the business on Wednesday. With the support of family and friends, Hernandez has taken the time to learn the business and all that is involved with running it.

So what would make a 20-year-old want to buy a coffee shop?

"The idea came up when I was working at Cheezer's Pizza," Hernandez said. "A buddy said I'd be good at running it." According to Hernandez, the owner of the restaurant believed he couldn't raise the funds to purchase it, so Hernandez looked at buying Coffee's, Etc., even though it was more expensive. The two businesses are next door to one another, and Hernandez was a frequent customer of the coffee shop.

Coffees, Etc., which has been around for 10 years, appealed to Hernandez because he wanted something that had a family oriented environment.

Hernandez had worked at Cheezer's for close to two years. The business closed in January.

With the support of his parents, Miguel Hernandez Sr. and Liz Hernandez, along with his church family, Hernandez Jr. began talking with Mike Mallory about buying Coffee's, Etc.

"I talked to them about what it would take. It takes six days a week," Mallory said.

With his set of Christian moral values in place, his perseverance already working, Hernandez went to work looking for investors to help him buy the business.

"A lot of people don't trust you when you're younger," Hernandez said. But he kept at it, eventually connecting with Sonnenberg.

Hernandez also won't be taking on the business by himself. Outside of the support of his family, he also has long-time employee Allison Schulz and returning employee Josh Tiffee. Although Thursday was Tiffee's first day, he last worked for Coffee's, Etc. three years ago, having worked there for four years.

As he becomes accustomed to the business, Hernandez plans to bring in a keyboard, and feature various live musical acts that will appeal to families. He believe Lodi has a lot of moral values and that people will want a place with a good environment to frequent.

"(Lodians) wants a place where people know their names," Hernandez said.

Eventually, Hernandez wants to return to school, studying theology. His long-term goals are to make the business profitable and donate its earnings to church-based charities.

"He's got the right attitude. He listens," Mallory said.

Coffee's, Etc. will have a grand opening on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with 10 percent off everything. For more information, call 365-1775.

Contact Business Editor Marc Lutz at marcl@lodinews.com.