Downtown Coffeeshop Celebrates Anniversary

On Wednesday, La Bouche cafe—a small, intimate, European-style coffeeshop—is celebrating its one-year anniversary at its downtown Bloomfield location. 

Owner Ezra Yuzer, a 41-year-old Istanbul native, moved to the States about four years ago. A year and a half ago she found her home in Hoboken. 

And while running a coffeeshop is a lot of work, it's not nearly as challenging as running four restaurants in Istanbul. Yuzer closed her businesses in Turkey in 2006, she said. 

"I was so tired," Yuzer said on Tuesday afternoon. She said she was looking to open up a smaller space. 

"We prepare all the things in here," she said. While most customers come in for breakfast and lunch, she said the restaurant will soon serve dinner. 

As far as customers are concerned, La Bouche has its downtown regulars. Even with downtown competition— and Hoboken staple —Yuzer said the place is often busy. But, she said, "we're planning to extend hours to get more people to come."

La Bouche has also extended its outdoor seating for the summer months, as a way to attract more customers. 

Yuzer said she has been thinking about opening up a location in Brooklyn as well. But that won't be until next winter. 

Yuzer said she is happy she made the move from Turkey—where she was born and raised—to the States. Running one coffeeshop is definitely less tiring, she admitted. 

"I'm not tired," she said, "I'm preparing (food) with love."