Partner Profile — Cloud Seven Cafe

Cloud Seven Cafe overlooking Jamison Square

The team behind Cloud Seven Cafe have put their hearts, minds and souls into creating a beautiful and enjoyable place. Situated perfectly along the boardwalk on NW 10th at Jamison Square, the cafe draws in guests like a magnet. An elated customer described the vibe as “an atmosphere that manages to be chic and homey all at the same time.”

For times when making it into the cafe doesn’t work out, Portland Pedal Power delivers their freshly prepared food by bicycle straight from the cafe’s kitchen (see delivery order menu).  Keep your eyes out for a catering menu soon. Until then, call or email PPP for catering delivery from Cloud Seven.

Owners Karly Ritter, Jennette & Rogier Ducloo

Owners Karly, Jennette and Rogier have received a number of fan emails since their grand opening in August. The trio have succeeded in creating a feel-good destination whether you are alone, with a friend or in a group. Go to talk, read, work on a laptop, people watch, dog watch, hold a meeting, host an event or just hang out. It seems to be the right environment no matter what — the result of good interior design. You can even reserve a large table, a whole wing, or hold a special event of your own after the 7pm closing time. Guests are offered breakfast, lunch, beer, wine, coffee, tea and fingerfood. And let me tell you, these folks are serious about their coffee drinks.

Cloud Seven has a light and lively vibe

Cloud Seven is as dynamic as their guests, offering daily breakfast and lunch specials (specials are tweeted out daily), fun events, tastings, concerts, social justice awareness events, local artists wall displays and even a knitting social every Monday from 4-6pm. Breakfast is served until 4pm and sometimes includes mimosas. I stopped in a few weeks ago in the afternoon and was nicely surprised to discover a man playing guitar from the cafe’s little corner platform.

The Cloud Seven website is a wellspring of fresh content.  The home page serves as a regularly updated blog that informs visitors about specials, events, pure ingredients and barista techniques. Here, you’ll get a reflection of their values about local food, fair trade with farmers, and sustainable business practices. The cafe was born from strong principles. People, fun and a healthy environment are front and center.

An artistic cappuccino and a good dog

Two musical events will be taking place in December, so be sure to check their upcoming events page.

Also upcoming is a feature in the annual guidebook, Eat Shop Portland — a nice feather in the cap that Jennette says came as luck when someone from the publication happened to stop into the cafe. Luck, maybe, but I think the charm of the place was the clincher. My dad used to say, we make our own luck. Look for the guides in the cafe soon.

The founders and capable staff give off great energy. The three share a love of eating, drinking, community, and outdoor sports (runs, races, triathlons, and the like). They take pride in being involved in the business and they did a lot of the work on the interior themselves.  Nearly all of the beautiful hand created wood features — tables, counter tops, benches, artistic wall paneling, lights, and partitions — were sanded and finished by their hands over many long hours.

Jennette says their goal has always been to stick to their principles in creating an enjoyable gathering place that is an important community driver — a place with events that is very much talked about.  May I congratulate you all on a job well done.  Bravo!