Jaime Ortiz grows company with new Primrose Cafe
Restauranteur Jaime Ortiz has grown his company with new Downtown eatery Primrose Cafe, with a ribbon cutting ceremony welcoming the new cafe serving coffee, breakfast, and lunch being held on December 13. Joining Owner Jaime Ortiz, 677 Prime Executive Chef Ken Kehn, and Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) Executive Director Georgette Steffens in celebrating Primrose Café at its 677 Broadway location were Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, and Albany County Senior Policy Analyst Lucas Rogers.
Ortiz’s portfolio has grown substantially in recent years, with five dining establishments under the JO Restaurant Group brand opened throughout the capital region. The Primrose Café, just blocks away from where his career started at the Albany Pump Station, is the second Downtown location for Ortiz, who became owner of 677 Prime in 2017 after having been a Chef at the destination eatery since it opened in 2005
The decision to take over the newly renovated space on the office side of the building was a natural progression, Ortiz said, as 677 Prime has not resumed daytime service and the cafe offered the opportunity to serve fresh breakfast and lunch options prepared daily on-site. Wanting to represent Albany, the name for the grab-and-go business is a combination of 677 Prime and roses, New York State’s flower. Already attracting nearby office employees and residents, Ortiz and Kehn are working to extend their reach with a newly launched catering menu, with plans also including offering the ability to order online for pickup.
Kehn, who manages the location, and Ortiz developed the menu on which customers will find offerings that include Smoked Salmon Croissant Sandwich with egg and gribiche cream cheese, Spinach, 3-Cheese & Morningstar Farms Vegetarian Sausage Wrap, salads with chicken or salmon protein options, and smoothies; since opening November 1, customers favorites have emerged and include Chicken Caprese Panini and RX Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal. When deciding on beverages, JO Restaurant Group management conducted a blind tasting with Chris’s Coffee before deciding on a house brew that’s among nearly two dozen drink options available including coffee, flavored lattes, and iced drinks, Primrose Café customers have navigated especially toward their Americano and Vanilla Latte.
Primrose Café, located inside 677 Broadway, is open Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-3:00 PM and accepts card payments only. For more information, call 518.275.0162, visit theprimrosecafe.com, or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/theprimrosecafe.
Read the full press release here
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