Daily News Cafe: New Ownership Brings Fresh Flavor to Carlsbad

(l-r: Aaron Williams, owner, and Brad Thomas, chef, and an amazing display of homemade baked goods)

So much is new in Carlsbad Village these days. But if you just take a minute to look around, you will realize that so much still remains which truly makes up the fabric of downtown Carlsbad.

The Daily News Café is one of downtown's venerable businesses that has a storied history, the likes of which we don’t often hear. And now, under new management with Aaron Williams at the helm, formerly of the Coyote Bar & Grill, and Chef Brad Thomas, formerly of the Compass Restaurant, the Daily News Café will continue to capture our hearts and senses for years to come.

Back in the day, pioneer Jim Watkins, a man of vision and heart, built the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort at the corner of what is now Carlsbad Village Drive and Carlsbad Blvd. (once Elm Avenue and Highway 101). Created with a European feel in mind, Jim built the resort and timeshare residences along with dining establishments and boutiques on one parcel of land. His vision was to create a space where people could come and stay with everything they needed just steps away, much like a small European Village. The year was 1985.

To truly embrace the European feel, Jim even flew in an authentic, bright red British K6 phone booth to anchor the property; it still stands outside the Daily News Café today. Jim built the restaurant, which was initially two stories, complete with a dumbwaiter, for his wife who opened the Grunion Run, a popular spot for food and drink, the first of a handful of restaurants to grace the iconic corner. Despite the incredible location, the restaurant would change hands several times and even be the start of a Danish bakery that went on to live for many years in the Village, to finally become the Daily News Café in 1990 when Robert (Bob) and Linda Ruane took it over.

In the mid 1980's, Linda was already operating a successful yogurt shop – Linda’s Frozen Yogurt & Deli – just south of the property and across the street from where Jim was building. Jim visited her business every time he was in town and eventually, he convinced her to take a chance on his new location. She moved her little business to the resort location, where it thrived, and she then proceeded to open California Wear on the property, and in 1990 Linda and her husband Bob opened the Daily News Café where it has been for 35 years. Now, more than three decades later, it is under new ownership.

For the past 25 years, Aaron Williams had been leading the charge at the Coyote Bar & Grill in the Village Faire Shopping Center, first as a bartender, then as a bar manager, and then as the General Manager for 18 years.

“I was interested in the Daily News Café for years,” Aaron said. “I had a tremendous amount of respect for Bob and Linda and what they built together. I feel fortunate that they gave me the opportunity last year to take over their legacy. I am very appreciative and excited about what's to come.”

During this time, Chef Brad Thomas was also building his own name in the culinary world at the Compass Restaurant. He started prepping salads at the Compass, worked his way to sous chef, and eventually took over as Executive Chef, elevating the menu to become one of the first gastropubs in downtown Carlsbad to turn heads. With 10 years under his belt at the Compass, and many more in the restaurant business, it seemed natural for Brad to join Aaron as his chef on Aaron’s journey to make the Daily News Café all it was meant to be.

With possibly the single best downtown location just steps from the beloved Carlsbad sign, just a block from the Pacific Ocean, the Daily News Café is growing up, again. Aaron and Brad are working together to make the Daily News Café known for its completely approachable but also upgraded menu that genuinely reflects the area.

“From fresh squeezed orange juice direct to your glass, to scratch made biscuits, pastries baked fresh daily, and homemade hollandaise sauce, we are focusing on quality and core ingredients,” said Chef Brad. Their signature Caramel Apple Cinnamon Roll and Blueberry Coffee cake are just two examples of baked goods that cannot be properly explained without tasting. Pair that with homemade jams, hand crafted lattes and espressos, or custom roasted and fresh ground coffee, and you have the components of a winning breakfast seven days a week.

There is something magical about dining on historic highway 101, the road that strings together the charming beach cities along the Pacific coast. While we celebrate what is new and innovative in downtown Carlsbad, keeping this Village by the Sea relevant and desirable, we also embrace that which makes us what we truly are. The Daily New Café is a regular reminder and testament to what makes Carlsbad Village a premier location for visitors while always being home to those who call themselves locals.

The Daily News Café is open seven days a week from 7:00am to 2:00pm serving breakfast all day, lunch, wine, beer, and specialty cocktails.

3001 Carlsbad Blvd.
www.dailynewscarlsbad.com