'We Want Regulars, Not Just Customers': Westfield Welcomes New Restaurant To The Community

WESTFIELD, NJ - What started as an idea from traveling around the world has now landed on its feet in Westfield.

The new tenants at the former site of Alpha Fit have officially planted their roots, ready to serve up breakfast and lunch every day of the week. Whether you're in the mood for coffee, a pastry or a full meal, "Almost Home General" opened for business last week along Westfield's Central Avenue.

While you'll find tried and true Jersey favorites, like pork roll, bacon and sausage egg-and cheese sandwiches, Mayor Shelley Brindle was not shy about her love for two dishes in particular after her welcome meal. She highlights the potato smash and a certain variety of bread, saying both "were to die for." That bread is sourdough, a nod to a West Coast staple and the breadth of culture and geography baked into the original energy behind starting the restaurant.

That sourdough comes from none other than Jess Bake Shop, and is part of a larger theme at the restaurant to source fresh, local ingredients from small, family-run businesses whenever possible. While the menu "evolves with the seasons," the eatery's founder and owner tells Patch that the commitment to community partnerships is something that will never go away.

Here now is our exclusive interview with Almost Home General's Robert Doran:

The Beginning

What was the motivation behind opening the doors to "Almost Home?"

Doran: Almost Home opened its doors in March 2021. I created the concept after spending years living and traveling across Asia, working on coffee farms and immersing myself in some of the most unique, hospitality-driven coffee shops in the world. When Covid forced me back home, I landed in Florida and began drawing up a business plan for a coffee and breakfast concept built around one mission: enter as a customer, leave as family.

Before securing the first location, I rode my bike from Florida to New Jersey — 1,800 miles in 20 days — with a phrase my best friend and business partner, Andrew Datre, and my mother repeated to me daily: “another day down, you’re almost home.” That phrase became our name and our spirit.

Why Westfield?

What is it about Westfield that drew you to want to be a part of the community?

We chose Westfield because it felt like the perfect canvas for an open-air, cozy, beautiful café. The design is heavily influenced by the indoor/outdoor cafés I fell in love with in Vietnam and Indonesia, which is why our space has tropical and jungle-inspired touches.

Westfield also represents the first full brick-and-mortar partnership between myself and Jerry Eicke, along with his Salad House and Alpha Fit Club corporate team. It’s a collaboration that brings strength, experience, and vision together under one roof.

What Makes Almost Home Different

What do you feel makes you special and shine in a crowded field like the restaurant business?

Almost Home stands out because of our obsession with details. We don’t just serve coffee and food — we deliver over-the-top hospitality and intentional customer service.

We want regulars, not just customers. That means remembering names, kids’ birthdays, favorite orders. It means setting our dining room with care, training and educating our staff, sourcing from local vendors, and celebrating seasonal ingredients.

We’re building a brand designed to last for decades, not days. From our people to our product to the entire guest experience, we’re committed to excellence at every step.

The Food

How do your chefs approach what they choose to include on your menu?

Almost Home is rooted in classic breakfast and lunch — with our own creative twists. A signature example is our homemade country biscuit sandwich: maple honey sausage, fried egg, white cheddar, and our house hot honey. We also serve Jersey staples like pork roll, bacon, and sausage egg-and-cheese sandwiches — elevated with our homemade ketchup.

The menu evolves with the seasons. Weekly specials highlight fresh, local ingredients, and we source from small, family-run vendors whenever possible. For instance, our sourdough comes from Jess Bake Shop, a husband-and-wife bakery whose bread we use on our avocado toast and BLT. That commitment to community partnerships defines who we are.

Community as the Heart

What does "rooted in community and connection," as it says on your website, look like and mean to "Almost Home?"

Community is at the center of Almost Home, and Westfield will showcase that fully. On weekends, we’ll open our garage doors to host local vendors — everything from pickle makers to bread bakers to farms. We’ll also welcome other pop-up food concepts to keep things fresh and dynamic.

This fall, we’re introducing a 500-gallon smoker to serve ribs, brisket, smoked wings, and pulled pork — alongside other pop-ups and seasonal events that will bring energy to the Southside of town. We’re not just a coffee shop; we want to be a beacon — a place where neighbors gather, connect, and feel proud of their community.

The Bookshelf

Talk to me more about the bookshelf decorative setting. What is the idea behind that, and how did it get populated?

The bookshelf is personal to me. When I traveled through Asia, I would sit in cafés for hours reading and soaking in the peace and tranquility. Adding a bookshelf to Almost Home was a way to recreate that experience — to encourage guests to slow down, grab a book, and enjoy the moment.

Every book on our shelves has been donated by customers and community members since we opened. It’s a small touch, but it represents the warmth, connection, and humanity we want people to feel every time they walk in.

Calling themselves a "quaint little coffee shop at heart," the more than six locations around New Jersey and another in Pennsylvania clearly show they are having no problem spreading the love.