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Smiley Cafe reopens under new management

Former business owner says she was kicked out
The cafe inside the Smiley Building is under the new management of Carrie Hladik and Franci Stagi and serves a variety of gluten-free goodies.

The Smiley Cafe has reopened under the new management of Carrie Hladik and Franci Stagi. The cafe serves a variety of gluten-free baked goods, sandwiches and salads.

“I’ve been in and out of the food service a long time,” said Stagi, a longtime Durango resident.

In her first restaurant management endeavor, Stagi said she hopes to attract customers who will stop in, relax, read and bring their children. The cafe is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In August, Karili Cavanaugh opened the cafe in the Smiley Building, 1309 East Third Ave. She said the building owner ousted her last month.

She said customers were happy, and the business was paying the rent.

Cavanaugh, who served breakfast, paninis and coffee drinks, said she had thought about expanding the operation, but her relationship with the owner gave her reservations.

“That’s one of the reasons I was hesitant,” she said. “Because he was never happy. Everything had to be organic.

“All of sudden, the landlord just said he didn’t think it was a good fit, and he found somebody else,” said Cavanaugh, who now works at an insurance company.

Charles Shaw, owner of the Smiley Building, declined to comment for this story.

The three-story building was purchased by Shaw, his wife, Lisa Bodwalk, and his brother, John, in 1997. At the time, the building was a 58-year-old junior high school that had fallen into disrepair.

Over the next 10 years, the building was converted into an office and arts space. The owners upgraded the building’s windows, boilers and fixtures and added solar and geothermal energy elements.

jromeo@durangoherald.com

Feb 16, 2020
New owner of Smiley Cafe looks to build on solid foundation


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