People in town - particularly in Ridgebury - are all abuzz about a new cafe coming to the neighborhood. Named Sunrise Cafe, the eatery and coffee shop will make its home inside Meetinghouse, a vibrant and inclusive community organization and meeting space for locals. Sunrise Cafe is the second Ridgefield venture from beloved Wooster Hollow Cafe owner Ron Herman, and all of its proceeds will be donated to local charities.
A resident of Fairfield and a passionate member of both the Ridgefield and Fairfield communities, Ron's thriving career as a local restaurateur is actually his second act. His first (and last) corporate job was with General Electric (GE), where he retired as CEO of GE Capital's Middle East business. He opened Wooster Hollow in December of 2014 and the Cafe will celebrate 10 years in business this year.
We spoke with Ron recently about his passions, what's next, and what he loves about Ridgefield and Fairfield.
CL: What drove you to small business ownership, particularly in the food and beverage space?
RH: I did a lot of soul searching and prayer to determine my purpose in the second phase of life, and what I found was that I was driven to own small businesses and give good jobs to my team. Good jobs create independence and self-reliance for people, and I feel that is significant. In addition to Sunrise Cafe, which opens in May, and Wooster Hollow Diner, I own CT CRAB CO, a gourmet crab cake manufacturer; Corales 40, a Dominican Republic-based hospitality company; Sunrise Investment Group, a private equity firm consulting group; and Sunrise Real Estate Holding, which owns commercial real estate.
CL: Why did you choose to open eateries in Ridgefield, and what do you love about the community?
RH: At first, I simply liked the location of what was previously known as Wooster Hollow Diner, Deli & Pizza along Route 7, which is a busy corridor. In my research, I had also learned that delis and diners typically have greater longevity than other types of restaurants, so this was a win-win. In 10 years of working in the Ridgefield community, I've come to love so much more about it - from walking along historic Main Street to picking up a box of Deborah Ann's milk chocolates for my wife. They're her favorite. But I've loved the Ridgefield community for a long time. My wife and I married at St. Mary's over 30 years ago, and this town has so many magical qualities: its historic streets, the arts, the music, the Prospector Theatre, and most of all - an accepting and giving community spirit.
CL: Tell us about your life in Fairfield.
RH: We settled in Fairfield in 1998 while I worked for GE, purchased an old home and have restored it over the years. I love walking around the village of Southport or along one of our five beaches. My wife, Kathryn, owns Kathryn Herman Design, a landscape design business. She's created lovely gardens on the property, which we open often for tours and charity events.
CL: Your businesses are very purpose-driven. Can you tell us more about that?
RH: I have a belief that we are nothing without our customers, and our purpose is to serve them. At Wooster Hollow, we have partnered with Ability Beyond for a number of years to employ young adults with special abilities. Sunrise Cafe will also have a higher purpose.
CL: Tell us about Meetinghouse Life and your involvement there.
RH: I am excited to be opening the Sunrise Cafe at the Meetinghouse in Ridgebury this May. Last year, I got involved with the Meetinghouse community center because of my belief in the importance of creating safe places to gather and grow as friends and neighbors. As the reconstruction progressed, it became clear that the Meetinghouse was the perfect location for a coffeehouse with a higher purpose.
The Sunrise Cafe will be open every day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. We will serve coffee, baked goods, sandwiches, soups and salads. The team from Wooster Hollow Cafe will manage the Cafe with the same focus on excellent food and friendly service. We will donate all profits from Sunrise Cafe to local charities. This will be our higher purpose!
CL: One last question! How did you choose the name "Sunrise Cafe"?
RH: One of my favorite expressions is, "The sun is coming up tomorrow." I use it to console those who are sad, stressed, anxious or troubled. Knowing that no problem or issue will cause the sun not to come up helps put things into perspective. So far, I have always been right with my prediction! Most days, I get up early to watch the sunrise. Each sunrise brings a new day and, with that, an opportunity for us to start over and do good in the world. That is why we have picked the name Sunrise Cafe.