{"id":1587,"date":"2018-03-01T09:00:48","date_gmt":"2018-03-01T14:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1587"},"modified":"2018-02-28T20:17:15","modified_gmt":"2018-03-01T01:17:15","slug":"soleil-cafe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1587","title":{"rendered":"Soleil Caf\u00e9"},"content":{"rendered":"

Serving Sunny Coffee\u00a0<\/em><\/h1>\n

By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Steven J. Pallone<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Coffee means a lot to Shem and Taylor Doup\u00e9, the husband-and-wife team behind Soleil Caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n

They met when Taylor was working at Caf\u00e9 Kubal\u2019s Eastwood location. Shem worked nearby and began frequenting the small caf\u00e9 after he met Taylor there.<\/p>\n

The two started dating. On one of their first few dates, Taylor nonchalantly mentioned that she and her sisters dreamed of one day opening a cafe of their own. Coincidentally, Shem had thought about being a small business owner around that same time.<\/p>\n

About 10 months later, after the couple was engaged, the conversation came up again. Shem and Taylor didn\u2019t want children yet, so they thought they might as well try it, and see what happens.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were actually saving for a wedding. We were like, \u2018Weddings are cool, but we could spend some of this money and hopefully make it back before the wedding or right after,\u2019\u201d Shem remembered with a laugh.<\/p>\n

In mid-January 2016, they decided to go for it. Four months later, on May 2, 2016, Soleil Caf\u00e9 opened.<\/p>\n

In the almost two years since that day, the duo has felt the typical amount of stress new business owners take on when delving into a first endeavor, but they\u2019ve never let that stress consume them or their relationship.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just put our heads down and kept moving forward,\u201d Shem said.<\/p>\n

When they began to plan the caf\u00e9, it became clear that Shem would do the initial buildout of the space and manage the numbers, but the day-to-day caf\u00e9 management and interaction with clientele would be almost entirely Taylor\u2019s responsibility. After they talked about those potentially grim truths, Taylor took a few days and asked a couple friends and business colleagues for feedback.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Definitely!\u201d they encouraged her. \u201cGo for that. Why wouldn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

When she first started working at Caf\u00e9 Kubal, Taylor never thought she\u2019d manage a shop, let alone run her own. She wanted to make sure it was something she could walk away from at the end of the day.<\/p>\n

It all comes down to choice, she explained. She makes sure to find other, non-work-related things that mean a lot to her, and devotes time and energy to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are so many other things that are important to me,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cI think to have a successful business, it comes from you yourself being internally OK and successful inside with your own personal life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shem and Taylor agreed they were all in, created a business plan and looked for a space. They searched for a community feel in an area not already saturated with coffee shops. The space at 511 E. Genesee St. in the Fayetteville Square plaza was a perfect fit. As winter turned to spring, Shem worked to turn the space into the small, cozy Soleil Caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you come in here, it doesn\u2019t feel like you\u2019re in a plaza,\u201d Taylor said, gesturing to the caf\u00e9 around her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was our goal,\u201d Shem explained. \u201cKeep it bright. Keep it clean. Keep it open. Make it feel different.\u201d<\/p>\n

On their opening day, most people they knew \u2014 or had ever known, they recalled with a smile \u2014 stopped by to support them.<\/p>\n

Soleil Caf\u00e9 sources coffee and espresso from Peaks Coffee Company, a small husband-and-wife-owned micro-roaster located in Cazenovia. After Taylor met Peaks co-owner Samuel Bender when they both worked at Caf\u00e9 Kubal, and was inspired by his passion for roasting, it was a no-brainer to partner with the fellow small business.<\/p>\n

Since opening, Soleil Caf\u00e9 has expanded to offer not just coffee and espresso beverages, but also waffles, avocado toast, soups and locally-made pastries. The specials menu changes often, showcasing homemade syrups crafted by Taylor.<\/p>\n

Last summer, they also added a coffee cart to their offerings, giving Soleil Caf\u00e9 the mobility to serve espresso drinks at local events, ranging from weddings to conferences.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s \u201cSoleil 1.5,\u201d Shem said with a laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an exciting thing for us,\u201d he said, \u201cbecause it was something that was very attainable and achievable, without biting off more than we could chew.\u201d<\/p>\n

They wouldn\u2019t have been able to add the cart \u2014 and live relatively stress-free work lives \u2014 without the support of Taylor\u2019s sisters, who were their first employees, and the team they\u2019ve built since opening. It\u2019s the only way she can walk away from the caf\u00e9, Taylor said.<\/p>\n

When it comes down to it, coffee comes second in their lives. Shem and Taylor are partners in life first, and business partners second, they agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think understanding that first, our relationship is priority, and then the caf\u00e9, has helped us succeed as a couple,\u201d Taylor said. SWM <\/em><\/p>\n

Soleil Caf\u00e9 is located at 511 E. Genesee St. in Fayetteville. For hours, menu, specials and more, visit soleil-caf\u00e9.com<\/a> or facebook.com\/soleilcaf\u00e9fayetteville<\/a>, or follow the caf\u00e9 on Instagram @soleil_caf\u00e9.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"IMG_1922\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1904\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1887\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Serving Sunny Coffee\u00a0 By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Steven J. Pallone\u00a0 Coffee means a lot to Shem and Taylor Doup\u00e9, the husband-and-wife team behind Soleil Caf\u00e9. They met when Taylor was working at Caf\u00e9 Kubal\u2019s Eastwood location. Shem worked nearby and began frequenting the small caf\u00e9 after he met Taylor there. The two started…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1611,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[555,133,549,553,552,134,175,554,548],"class_list":["post-1587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","tag-fayetteville","tag-lorna-oppedisano","tag-march-2018","tag-shem-doupe","tag-soleil-cafe","tag-steven-j-pallone","tag-syracuse-eats","tag-taylor-doupe","tag-the-womens-history-empowerment-edition"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_1992.jpg?fit=5200%2C3452&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":524,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=524","url_meta":{"origin":1587,"position":0},"title":"Bailiwick Market & Cafe","author":"Staff","date":"February 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"One-Stop Local Shop By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Steven J. 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