Sean Braswell has worked in the restaurant business since he was 15 years old. As 225 Dine reports, it was during a drive down Government Street when he saw an opportunity to fill a void in the Mid City restaurant scene.
While there’s plenty of quick service restaurants and popular lunch spots along Government Street, Braswell didn’t see any breakfast joints. In hopes of tapping into the breakfast market, Braswell this summer plans to open Simple Joe in Ogden Market—the Mid City shopping center at 3057 Government St. that is home to businesses including The Radio Bar and Time Warp Boutique. A hard opening date has not been set for the breakfast café yet, but Braswell is shooting for July.
Braswell says Simple Joe will offer a la carte plates, breakfast sandwiches with Texas toast and maybe even grits bowls. On the coffee side of the business, Braswell says he will be using Orleans Coffee Exchange, which sends out select beans from different regions of the globe to businesses.
“The idea started as a little coffee shop, but then I thought, ‘Let’s take it up another level,’” says Braswell, who worked his way up the ladder in the local restaurant scene at places such as Sullivan’s Steakhouse and Ruth’s Chris. “I’ve always done these gourmet chocolates, and I would love to sell them.”
His chocolates are hand-dipped milk, dark and a blend of the two. He also has recipes for chocolate-covered cherries, peanut butter cups, peppermint patties and fudges.
“My mother used to make these and give them out as Christmas gifts when I was growing up,” he says. “She stopped doing that after a while, and I realized her recipes need to be out there. They’re phenomenal.”
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