Our Story
Where did the cafe name come from and what in heck does it mean?
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A few years ago when I decided that I wanted to open a coffee shop, I was looking for inspiration everywhere for a name. I would be driving around Hammond and Ponchatoula and putting just about every word I saw or thought of in front of “Cafe”.
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We were driving home one day from school when my daughter was, once again, talking about kids pulling their clips. I put “Pull Clip” in front of “Cafe” and it just clicked. Not only did it work in my brain, but it held personal meaning for us as the behavior system used in schools made a huge impact on my daughter. To this day she still tells me who pulled their clip each day and what they did to get their clip pulled.
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I love that the behavior chart system resets every day. No matter how bad, or good, the prior day was, they get a chance to start fresh. What better way to start the day than with a hot, fresh cup of coffee, a fresh-baked pastry, or a breakfast sandwich? Having a rough day and need a small treat to get you through the day? Stop by Pull Clip Cafe!
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Who are you and why did you open a coffee shop, bakery, and cafe?
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It all started when I was less than inspired by the job I was doing. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my job but when I was in between projects I was not challenged, and I was less than motivated by the repetitive daily tasks I was responsible for.
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I had been working remotely for a year when Hurricane Ida decided to “hug” our little community. The internet was still out at our house so I borrowed a workstation at my husband’s office in Ponchatoula. We would walk to Paul’s Cafe several times a week for breakfast. I love the local atmosphere they have and how the wait staff gets to know their regulars.
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But I’m a coffee snob and while I’ll drink whatever is available, I don’t always enjoy it. So I set out on a mission to try the coffee available from all the local shops, few though they were. PJ’s was not yet in Ponchatoula so the options were limited. I wanted good coffee! Inspiration struck and I started looking into what it would take to open a coffee shop. My husband told me he had not seen me so excited since I had my daughter or since the Lady Gaga concert in Vegas! I knew I was on the right path.
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About a year later, while we were visiting family at Christmas time, I was planning and cooking all of the family meals. I love to cook, I love to bake, and I love, love, love making happy tummies. The vacation and time away from my job allowed me to reflect and realize that I did not want to go back to work.
I still wanted to open a shop with specialty coffee, but I also wanted it to be a place I could cook and bake. All my life I’ve been “playing” with my food. As a kid, I would open the pantry and just grab whatever I thought would go together. I played with the spices in the pantry until the food tasted good. I learned through experimenting and as the internet grew, so did my knowledge of cooking and baking.
As someone who is not very good at following directions, I would take recipes and change them to accommodate my tastes or whatever was available in my pantry. I practiced, and, while not always successful, always learned from both the good and the bad results of my cooking and baking.
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Now, back to the Christmas vacation…
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I’m not one who makes rash decisions. I like to plan. So, my husband and I discussed my dream and made a plan. I notified my employer that I would be leaving the company by or at the end of 2023, and I would use that time to prepare and plan and do all the things necessary to be ready.
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The universe had other plans! I was laid off at the end of January, 2023, and immediately called my husband and told him that the cafe was ON. In just under five months, Pull Clip Cafe officially opened on July 18, 2023 in Hammond, Louisiana.
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I still play with my food and encourage all of my bakers to do so as well. It is truly an indescribable feeling when playing with my food allows me to create something that has never existed.
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Whether you’re just looking for a quick coffee and a treat, a hearty breakfast or lunch, or you’re looking for something special for your next gathering, we are here for you.
Sincerely,
Rosalinda