Honeymoon Cafe brings color to Pismo Beach
Driving down Price Street in foggy Pismo Beach, a turquoise wooden structure illuminates the skyline, with succulents and plants lining the front garden. In the heart of the city, the brightest structure on the shoreline invites you into an oasis of coffee, trinkets and friendly faces –– each with a history of its own. The old-school vibe and smell of warm espresso greet you at the door, as you can scan a menu that differs from the Starbucks down the street.
The “funky, fresh and fun” environment is Christi Rivera’s own personal honeymoon.
Honeymoon Cafe has been around for 40 years and encapsulates owner Rivera’s personality and passions, combining them with her love for food and coffee.
It was almost fate that when Rivera’s time at Cal Poly ended in 2007, she was invited by a coworker to visit her family’s beach house in Pismo. As they picked a place to stop, they came across an old bookstore attached to a sporting goods store. The store was filled with ice cream, kettle corn and coffee, as bibles lined the tables.
When Rivera entered the old store, she was unexpectedly approached by the male owner of the shop, who simply asked, “You ladies seem cool, do you want to buy this place?”
At this moment, on a little square napkin, Rivera wrote down her information, with a dream in mind.
“Straight down from the menu to the decor, the colors, I’ve never been a black and white person….I’ve just been a colorful, vivacious person,” Rivera said. “I believe that we were born to see color.”
As a young, free-spirited college student, Rivera was excited to create her own version of an old-time cafe. She said she envisioned a bright purple door, yellow and green walls, teal cabinets, tables displaying local creations and a variety of other antiques.
Since opening her cafe’s doors 17 years ago, she has painted it twice from the inside and out. Drawing inspiration from a trip to New Orleans and other destinations around the world, she carefully selected the color schemes.
Rivera was adamant about crafting her own furniture as well, so she repurposed an old trampoline to create table bases for Honeymoon. Her longtime employees, like Thomas Herandez, notice Rivera’s special touch.
“Through the brightness, through the high energy that she brings, through the love and acceptance that we try to express here, it’s not just like ‘stay in the kitchen and cook.’
It’s like, people come in and they know our names. People kind of build relationships with us and I think that’s really important, not only for business, but just for each other.”
Honeymoon Cafe is beloved due to its dedication to being different, as Rivera said she dislikes the “cookie-cutter” look. She’s never been one to follow trends, preferring instead to carve her own path. Rivera implements unique items to the menu that grab the attention of the average person, such as the seasonal Strawberry Shortcake Latte or Jackfruit Bahn mi bowl.
Beyond the menu, Rivera wanted to keep the cafe spirit alive, even during COVID-19. The little cafe, normally full of people running out with their morning coffee, was instead filled with plastic, fake dummies set up with masks and playing cards –– Rivera deeply desired to encapsulate the same feeling of Honeymoon during unprecedented times.
Along with her creative side, Rivera commits to always being open to new things. She encourages and welcomes change in her daily life, which is reflected within the cafe.
“I live life to the fullest, I rarely say no,” she said. “I’m a yes girl.”
As Honeymoon continues to invite change, Rivera remains true to her passion for creating a funky, homey environment where people want to stay and chat with a warm cup of joe in hand and maybe even try brand-new food. After 17 years in the business, Rivera’s creative side remains plastered on the walls of the Honeymoon Cafe.
