For five years, Caf Bar has been serving the Wakefield community quality cups of coffee, fresh food and now, samplings of local art and music.
Opened in 2018 by Elias Boutros and his wife, Caf Bar started as a small coffee shop at 119 Main St. in Wakefield. Boutros, who has had a lifetime of experience in the food and beverage service industry, decided to open up Caf Bar to work for himself and his young family.
“I used to work for my parents’ store at URI, International Pocket,” Boutros said. “When me and my wife decided to start a family and buy a house, we didn’t want those crazy hours. We thought a coffee shop makes more sense.”
Caf Bar currently offers coffee, tea, juice and a small food menu featuring local ingredients, according to Boutros.
“We’re pretty much a scratch kitchen, right across the board,” Boutros said. “We would like to keep it fresh, keep it local as much as we can. During the summertime we can get some local produce.”
Starting in 2022, Caf Bar attained a beer and wine license, allowing their service to expand.
“You know, we’re ramping up,” Boutros said. “We’re hoping to get our full liquor license. We currently serve some low ABV cocktails, zero-proof cocktails, mimosas, beer and wine.”
Boutros highlighted Isaiah Kelly, the bar manager at Caf Bar, for his creativity behind the bar.
“Our sangria we make from scratch without using just the wine and stuff,” Boutros said. “We make our own shrubs (a type of cocktail syrup) instead of getting the bottles every bar has. We like to get creative but again, you’re kind of limited by what we have in a beer and wine license.”
Caf Bar plans to add an espresso martini once their liquor license expands.
With the addition of the beer and wine menu, Caf Bar has extended their hours allowing for a new community space to blossom. Every Thursday since the spring has featured local musical acts in a small intimate performance.
“There are a lot of local musicians which is nice,” Boutros said. “You get different people and then each musician brings their own type of following.”
One of the biggest forces in bringing the arts to Caf Bar is Jackie Bell, general manager and co-owner of the restaurant.
“Well, I always wanted to work with musicians because we have a lot of friends in the musical community here,” Bell said. “When we decided we’re gonna open up at night I really wanted to pull in some music.”
Along with musical performances, Caf Bar has begun showcasing art from local artists on the walls.
“We have so many customers that come in here that are incredibly talented artists,” Bell said. “We wanted to start showcasing them, and we don’t take any money off of them, whatever they sell, they just get to keep it all.”
Boutros values the community that he’s helped create in Caf Bar. Seeing familiar faces each morning and providing a good product.
“My favorite part of doing this has just been being able to be humble to grow with the community,” Boutros said. “What keeps us going is just to really push each other as a team. We try things, then they don’t work and we try something else.
Bell echoed Boutros’ sentiment.
“A coffee shop to me has always been a community more than anything else,” Bell said. “Our community is so amazing, I see the same people every day, I see their children grow up and we’ve been growing along with it as well.”
Caf Bar is located at 396 Main St. in Wakefield. They’re open seven days a week, and open until 9 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday. For information can be found on their website or their Instagram @cafbar.