Hidden among Quakerbridge Road’s popular chain restaurants is one of New Jersey’s most quaint cafes. The atmosphere is always sunny and welcoming, perfectly complimenting the restaurant’s dynamic menu and friendly service staff. Its name is Brookwood Café, but Mercerville historians will know it began as Brookwood Deli more than 40 years ago.
Although the Brookwood name and location are familiar, the latest incarnation — the Brookwood Café — recently found new owners. As of December 2016, husband-and-wife team Jeff and Kelly Rick own the restaurant. Prior to acquiring the café, Jeff taught business at Lawrence High School in Lawrence Township. However, it’s always been a dream of his to open up a business of his own. After retiring several years ago, he found an opportunity to make that dream come true.
More from Best of NJ
The Story Behind Brookwood Café
Jeff is no stranger to the food service industry, putting his previous experience to good use as he approaches his second year in business.
“My father owned two successful taverns in Hamilton while I was growing up,” Jeff tells Best of NJ. “So I understood what is needed to run a business.”
Jeff’s original idea was to open up his own coffee shop. But after a few visits to Brookwood Deli, he instead came to an ever more ambitious realization.
“We went to the Brookwood numerous times to see if it was possible to convert it to an upscale coffee house,” Jeff explains. “The more I frequented the Brookwood, the more I saw what it could be. Despite the fact that the Brookwood Deli was long overdue for major upgrades, the place was a hidden gem.”
Shortly after purchasing the location, Jeff went ahead with making minor changes here and there; still, there was much about the Brookwood that was important to keep, such as head chef Ervin Chavez.
“Ervin started at the Brookwood as a dishwasher and moved his way up to the head cook,” says Jeff. “Ervin was the only cook for eight years, working six days a week and never missing a day. His cooking and reliability is invaluable.”
The talented cooks that the café employs today share Chavez’s mastery in a range of culinary practices; In fact, they do everything from grilling juicy burgers to preparing homemade soups and “secret recipe” pancakes.
What Makes the Brookwood Café Special
The café offers concise breakfast and lunch menus with good ol’ fashioned dishes. It also offers a range of irresistible daily specials. Items include a twist on the familiar Monte Cristo Sandwich as well as a delectable s’mores Belgian waffle.
Brookwood also has one of the most notable service staffs in Mercer County. For instance, retired Our Lady of Sorrows teacher, MaryAnn Sullivan, is known as “The Mayor of Brookwood” to customers; her moniker comes from the fact that she’s friendly with all who visit.
As for the Ricks, the café is a true family affair. Kelly often helps serve on weekends, while her mother, Celeste, takes hosting duties; meanwhile, Jeff and Kelly’s two young daughters happily serve water, clean tables, make toast and work the cash register. In addition, you can almost always find Jeff in the back, working among his staff.
One of the most extensive renovations for the café is easily noticeable in the seating. Beyond painting the dining area, updating the kitchen, and remodeling the bathrooms, Jeff actually rebuilt the booths himself last spring.
“One by one, I took each booth into my garage, and after work I rebuilt each and every booth in the restaurant,” he says.
Even with all these improvements, the Brookwood Café plans to continue changing; in truth, the restaurant wants to keep improving for its guests. The Ricks love hearing ideas from their customers, and even name several menu items after some of their faithful regulars.
“We are continually trying new ideas,” Jeff admits. “We look forward to hearing your story over a cup of coffee and breakfast.”
All Photos: © Patrick Lombardi / Best of NJ
