MARCELLA JUNE’S COFFEE LOUNGE PROVIDES AN ILLUMINATING EXPERIENCE

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By Miriam Raftery
 

March 29, 2011 (La Mesa)—David Zaloudek decided to combine his two passions: coffee and restoring vintage light fixtures. You can savor and purchase both at Marcella June’s Coffee Lounge, La Mesa’s newest java joint at 8513 La Mesa Blvd. The coffee lounge is named in honor of Zaloudek’s mother, whose portrait adds a vintage touch in keeping with the period lighting that softly illuminates this cozy, one-of-a-kind shop.

 

At a ribbon-cutting hosted by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce on March 10th, I asked a friendly barrista what beverage he recommended. Mocha with a shot of peanut butter—an off-menu option, proved tasty and satisfying.
 

In addition to a wide range of coffee and espresso drinks (including some brewed from Fair Trade coffee beans), Marcella June also offers a selection of teas and claims to have the world’s first line of “red espresso” beverages made from African red bush roobois tea. Other options include Italian sodas, Mexican chocolate beverages, and home-made style pastries from a variety of bakers, including some Vegan offerings. Breakfast/lunch items will be coming soon, the website promises.

Students and workers seeking to multi-task while sipping coffee or tea can take advantage of FREE Wifi service. You can also shop for restored antique lamps as well as art glass lighting designs, some utilizing a glass kiln, and other gift items for sale.

The owner, who grew up in Oregon, learned the art of restoring an old mirror from an acquaintance made at a coffee shop he frequented. He soon learned how to restore original lighting in his 1930s Tudor home. “I was hooked,” he writes on his website.
 

Soon, Zaloudek was collecting vintage fixtures salvaged from garage ales, old homes and even a movie theater. He restored them and sold the fixtures on E-Bay. Later, he gave up his corporate job in pharmaceutical sales and moved to San Diego, where he started up Period Illuminations, a lighting restoration business—also working part-time as a barista at Starbucks to acquire benefits and hone his coffee-making skills.
 

He opened Marcella June’s with help from his best friend, Hilda, an assistant store manager at Starbucks, adding comfortable furnishings to complement the period lighting.
 

Situated on the south side of La Mesa Blvd. between University and Jackson Drive, Marcella June’s is open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. , and weekends from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Night hours will be changing soon on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays with some events to be announced soon, so check the website at www.marcellajune.com for updates.
 

 


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