Page 13 - Diane Musgrove Issue

Women of Distinction

around San Diego. She underwent various Soon after it
enjoyed the intimacy treatments, including opened, The Alcove
they offered and imag- chemotherapy, until she became a welcomed
ined owning her own was cancer free in 2013. gathering space for local
place one day. Her first In 2014, she finally residents, but every-
priority was for it to be bought a fixer-upper thing changed with the
small and personable, that she sold in 2017, onset of the pandemic.
“A home away from providing the funding By then, Angela had
home, a ‘Cheers’ atmo- for her to pursue her exhausted most of her
sphere,” as she described dream seriously. funds just to launch
it. With that concept in That’s when the real the business. Like so
mind, her journey be- work began. “I had no many others, she had
gan. Although it would idea what I was getting to get creative to stay
take years, Angela never into,” she admitted. “It in business. After the
gave up. took nearly two years to until she discovered mitted to knowing what initial shutdown, when
In 2012, Angela find a location.” While the location where The her customers like and bars and restaurants
found herself in the she had geographic Alcove now sits. has the same expecta- could open on a limited
middle of a divorce boundaries in mind for Formerly a small tion for her employees. basis, she needed to
which forced her to sell locating her business, used furniture shop, the Ironically, Angela is not make some rapid and
her home. Staying fo- she quickly became landlord was willing a huge wine drinker, immediate changes.
cused on her dream, she schooled about the to pay for some tenant and one of the ways She built a small
decided to use the pro- various licensing regu- improvements and she engages customers patio to accommodate
ceeds from that sale to lations and restrictions provided six months of is by hosting free wine outside diners, which
invest in a fixer-upper that eliminated many free rent while Angela tastings where they help was all that was allowed
with hopes of selling it possible locations she and her architect de- select which wines to initially. She cut her
at an even greater profit considered. She also signed and built out the include on the menu. It payroll, which meant
to grow her nest egg in received very little co- space, which required is a unique approach, she had to reduce her
order to open her busi- operation from poten- a major remodel. “I but certainly one that daytime office manag-
ness. Then in the same tial landlords regarding was surprised by all the values her customers’ er work so she could
year, she was diagnosed tenant improvements building permits and input. work at the wine bar.
with breast cancer and and rent abatements licensing requirements, She also dedicates When restaurants and
especially for a bar/ much time cultivating bars were authorized
restaurant. It was a load a menu that pairs well to provide take-out
of work, and the permit with both wine and service, she reduced the
process alone cost beer. “I want to make hours of operation. One
nearly $30,000,” she sure there is something of the biggest challenges
admitted. The build-out for everyone,” she was finding and keeping
began in May 2019 and said. As a result, what chefs during this time.
finished in December. is served is not “typi- Angela went through
Angela temporarily cal” bar fare. Anthony approximately thirty
quit her job to ensure Magee has been an during the pandemic.
the work was complet- intermittent chef at The Despite all of the chal-
ed on schedule. She Alcove since it opened. lenges, “The community
also made presenta- His twelve years of was very supportive,”
tions to the El Cerrito culinary experience she acknowledges. She
Community Board to has inspired many of said customers would
keep them informed the items on the menu. patronize the local
and to earn their sup- “Customers are always restaurants on a rota-
port which she grate- amazed by the quality tional basis to be equal-
fully received. of the food because the ly supportive in hopes
Angela succeed- kitchen is so small,” he those establishments
ed in creating a very says. Some favorites would remain open.
personable atmosphere include the “Alcove Despite her positive
where locals feel Burger,” the lemon energy and exuberant
comfortable to drop in garlic parmesan shrimp confidence, Angela
for a minute or for an pasta, or the stuffed admits the pressures
evening. She is com- poblano pepper. of keeping the wine

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