Sometimes opportunity comes when you least expect it. Alejandra and Sam Janecke found this to be true when they stumbled upon the perfect location for introducing Ale’s heritage and Columbian food to Dubuque. “We were on a date at Habits, the previous café before us. A notice next to the register announced the closure of Habits. While we were drinking our coffee and eating our donuts Alé casually mentioned this would be a great place to sell empanadas,” says Sam. Little did they know what began as a simple conversation would ignite a new business bringing Columbian cuisine to downtown Dubuque.
@Papi’s Café is located at 1052 Locust Street in downtown Dubuque. This location, formerly Habits, embodied the “hole in the wall” atmosphere Ale knew would be perfect to share Colombian cuisine, as it reminded her of the places she had experienced as a child in growing up in Columbia. “As immigrants we often feel homesick and food is usually one of those things people look back on with yearning. We wanted to bring some of that to Dubuque, for other immigrants, for Americans to experience, and for ourselves, our family, and our friends. We are lucky to bring a small window of that richness to Dubuque. We wish it were more, but we are just getting started,” says Sam.
@Papi’s officially opened last April, but the plans had been in the works for several months, as Ale prepared for her youngest child to begin school the previous August. As the EMS Bureau Chief for the Dubuque Fire Department, Sam was working full time, but Ale knew she wanted to venture out when all her children would be in school. Although neither of them had previous experience in the restaurant business, they had lots of experience with food and culture and a strong desire to share both with their community.
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