‘Feeding the soul of the community.’ New owners transform Columbus ‘hidden gem’

A Columbus restaurant known as a “hidden gem” — tucked inside Midtown Office & Storage — has entered a new chapter.

Sandy’s Cafe officially opened May 4 in the space formerly occupied by Midtown Cafe and Bakery, at 2357 Warm Springs Road. The cafe serves breakfast and lunch weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering sandwiches, salads, pastries and coffee.

The cafe is operated by Isaac Salazar and Alonso Trevizo, two friends who met while working in the Columbus Police Department in 2017. Trevizo left his job in law enforcement to work as the cafe’s general manager full-time, while Salazar continues to work as a reserve officer.

For them, owning a restaurant was never part of their meticulously crafted business plan. Instead, it was an opportunity presented to them while they planned to launch a food truck with their family members.

The name “Sandy’s” comes from Trevizo’s mother, Sandra, and the rose in the logo honors Salazer’s late wife, Rosie, who died from cancer.

“We had an opportunity back in November,” Trevizo said, “and I couldn’t think of anybody else to bring into this partnership other than Isaac.”

But life had other plans. The pair couldn’t find a commercial kitchen to use for their truck until February. Trevizo said they began investing their money to realize their long-standing dream.

Like winning the lottery

Trevizo and and Salazar landed the Sandy’s Café deal through a mix of connection and timing. A few years earlier, Trevizo had run a trucking company out of the Midtown Office and Storage building, so when they bought the Sandy’s food truck in November and needed an office, they naturally came back there. Property manager Brent Buck, brother of Midtown Cafe and Bakery owner Perry Buck, called them in late February with the opportunity to buy the cafe — without knowing about their business dream.

“I equated [the call] to winning the lottery,” Trevizo said. “We came in there with pennies in our pockets and left rich men with a vision. … We left there almost in tears.”

While customers still associate the location with Midtown Cafe, Salazar said they are focused on creating something different.

“We have our own spin and our own flavor,” Salazar said.

The cafe serves breakfast and lunch weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, pastures and coffee drinks, along with Mexican-inspired items like chorizo tacos and elote.

Business about more than food

Salazar and Trevizo still plan to launch the Sandy’s food truck in the coming weeks, focusing on authentic Mexican street food. For both owners, though, their business is about more than food.

After years in the military and law enforcement, Salazar said he wanted to create the kind of welcoming environment people often need during difficult days.

“You never know what people are going through,” he said. “Somebody could just be having a bad day, but if they come in here, and it’s a nice and welcoming environment, and we could give them that tiny little escape, that’s the mission.”

Trevizo added, “That’s our consensus, building a warm, welcoming environment where you can come in, sit down, read or study. You don’t have to just eat or buy a coffee.”

Interior created by local designer

The Sandy’s Cafe interior was redesigned by local designer Gina Ramey of Gina’s Custom Creations, who helped the owners bring their vision to life.

“Everything you see here she either thrifted or picked it out online for us,” Trevizo said.

Some employees from Midtown Cafe stayed to work on Sandy’s staff, including the general manager and kitchen manager. Questions about job opportunities at Sandy’s Cafe’s can be emailed to info@sandysandsons.com.

Salazar hopes the sense of community becomes the restaurant’s legacy.

“We don’t want to just feed bellies,” Salazar said. “We want to feed the soul of the community.”

Trevizo matches his ambition.

“I want people to know who we are,” he said. “I want Sandy’s to be a staple of the community.”