New shop offers variety of coffee, gelato

Name of Business: Coffee & Gelato

Type of business: coffee/gelato shop

Owners: Yelena Tolstov

Founded: June 2009

Address: 2170 Main St., Suite B, Oakley

Phone number: 925-679-2477

Hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday

Number of employees: four

Products and services: Coffee & Gelato offers five different labels of coffee. Each label comes in various flavors. They also carry cafe latte, mocha, cappuccino, espresso, hot chocolate, Americano coffee, tea blends and iced coffee and tea. The shop also carries 12 different flavors of gelato, pastries, muffins and smoothies. It offers drive-through services, takeout and eat-in. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.

How did you get into the business?: Before Tolstov moved to this country she owned a similar business in Russia. When she moved to the United States it took her a little time to be able to open her own business, but she eventually found a good location and added some items to her menu that she had not had at her previous shop.

Best part about the business: "To make people happy so that they tell their friends and they come in," she said.

Worst part about the business: Tolstov said that she loves doing this kind of business, which is why she worked so hard to open a place like the one she had before. She can't think of anything that she would call worse or bad about the business.

Key to success: "Having pride in what you do and working hard for success," Tolstov said. She also said that she makes sure that she has a good product and the items that people want to purchase. If the customers want different flavors she is willing to listen to them and bring in something different.

Biggest misperception about the business: "People look at the small cups of gelato and think they are so small," she said.

She explains that gelato is a heavy dessert and not like ice cream. She said three ounces of gelato are equivalent to about five ounces of ice cream.

"Many people here do not know what gelato is because they haven't had it before," she said. "It is very new to this area, but it is very good."

Future plans: In the future, Tolstov wants to bring in live music for the customers to enjoy. She also wants to invite clubs to come in and have their meetings at Coffee Gelato.
— Roni Gehlke