Today we’d like to introduce you to Drew Jeglinski.
Hi Drew, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Little Joy is a coffee bar and wine shop in Del Mar village. My wife Cat and I have been serving locals and travelers alike since June 2019.
We began as a roadside coffee cart on Coast Highway for the first 5 years, Last year, we built out a new Coffee Bar and Wine Shop just across the street. We’ve been there now for over a year and half. We are stoked to continue to grow our business and our community in Del Mar.
I originally bought our coffee cart location from my former employer, Zumbar Coffee and Tea. After training with them for over 2 years, I was ready to branch out and try my hand at small business ownership.
The cart was a challenge and a joy to operate. I just showed up, made the best coffees I could, and we earnestly integrated ourselves into the neighborhood. The line kept growing.
With our recent expansion, my wife Cat was able to open her own boutique wine shop and tasting room in the adjacent space. With her years of experience, her incredible palate, and her extensive knowledge base, the shop serves as a place of discovery for people interested in learning more about wines, the wine process, and the world in which they come from. Besides being a cute bottle shop, we offer tasting flights each weekend, wine education classes, palate training workshops and private events.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Well, we started from the ground up, so there were many challenges to starting this small business. But I just had the philosophy and the faith that if I just showed up each day and gave it my all, it would work. It has been my goal to own and operate a respected coffee shop for most of my life. The little coffee cart was the chance I needed. It was a leap of faith, but I felt I was on the perfect path for myself. Even if it was a quiet day, I felt happy that I was doing what I loved.
The build out of a new space was another challenge for sure. Part of owning your own business is the luxury of autonomy. But when you need a team to design, permit and construct a new space, you have to work with all types of personalities. Since we were building in Del Mar, there was the assumption that we had a lot of money or funding. We didn’t. We put our own money back in the project and maintained our autonomy and our ability to choose the direction of our business.
I’m a very particular person when it comes to aesthetics and efficiency nd I’m proud that we were able to grow our business the way we wanted to. We were able to expand, but while remaining small, personal, and focused. Tiny steps. People often ask me how many locations we have. We have one. We don’t plan to clone ourselves or to own a chain of storefronts. I would rather work up front, stay engaged, and have fun everyday. We just trust that success goes beyond wealth, money and perpetual expansion. I think that comes across to our customers and they appreciate the personal touch. Our intention is to be there, to be present.
We’ve been impressed with Little Joy Coffee and Wine, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a small operation with a big impact and a lot of love for our customers and friends. We try to attract a friendly cohort of regulars that are just as welcoming and engaging as we are. This helps generate a creative energy and buzz around our shops, where people are able to connect over a fine coffee or a glass of wine and form genuine friendships. Everyone is so fascinating, and they are interested in learning more about wine, what we do, and what is next for the community.
Besides being a cute bottle shop with an ocean view, we offer tasting flights each weekend, wine education classes, palate training workshops and private events.
Our wine club is a monthly membership offering 2 unique bottles per month. We try to find outstanding wines that are more unique, off-beat, or lesser known – from all regions of the world. Some club favorites have been a crisp white from the Canary Islands, a Bordeaux-style blend from Slovenia, and many more wines that surprise and delight.
Cat has worked in the wine industry in many roles over the past 15 years. She started in wine bars and fine wine retail before moving into wholesale and distribution. She’s passed all of the blind tasting exams on her path to the WSET diploma, and she was recently on the board of directors for the San Diego Women’s Wine Alliance. Let’s just say she knows her stuff. What’s so impressive about Cat is that she can remember nearly every wine she’s ever tasted, and she has a very casual, down to earth approach to teaching people about the craft. She loves pairing wine with people.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
One other challenge that we face is the reputation that Del Mar has in North County. All of San Diego has hip little enclaves. Del Mar has a reputation for being a little older, too wealthy, too touristy. Hard to park. Salty locals. But the community here is so diverse and interesting. We’ve met the most fascinating people, from all over the world, while working in his town for the past 7 years. Amazing scientists and professors, authors, artists, and everyday people that are trying to make the world a better place. To me, Del Mar is the prettiest of the north county towns – it has a unique position on the coast where you can see beaches that stretch from La Jolla to Oceanside. The hill offers some of the most stunning views of the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, and there are more trees, quiet alleys, secret trails, and unique architecture here than in any other village. It truly is a most remarkable place with its own history, community, and a new wave of people moving in to start families, continue their education, or just find their own slice of heaven.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://littlejoydelmar.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlejoydelmar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlejoydelmar/
Image Credits
Drew Jeglinski
Cathryn Vanettes
Zoë Lundy
