by Lorie Lewis Ham
Here at KRL we love to find unique places whether they be shops, cafes, or coffee shops. Recently we discovered one that also had a very unique name—BooBoo Bean Bakery and Café located in Fresno. It opened in January of 2018. I took some time to chat with the Café’s owner Jenny Rivera and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect as they also offer holiday meals you can take home for the family–all of the great home cooking without any of the work. 
KRL: Why did you choose to open BooBoo Bean Café and why in this location?
Jenny: I always knew I wanted to open a business. My husband’s parents owned a Mexican restaurant many years ago in Selma. My grandfather owned a bakery (Clovis Bakery) and then a restaurant (Carl’s BBQ) many years ago in downtown Clovis. When we found out about the spot we are in we fell in love with the charm of its location and decided it would be a good fit for our concept
KRL: Are you originally from Fresno?
Jenny: Born and raised in the Clovis area. Lived in the north valley for 3 years right after high school but came back and settled in Clovis.
KRL: Do you have a background in the food/coffee industry?
Jenny: My first job was at a pizzeria. I then spent 10 years in the grocery business and then 12 years as a quick service restaurant general manager.
KRL: Where did the name come from?
Jenny: For several years prior to opening BooBoo Bean, I had a small home business selling cupcakes. It was word of mouth only. My son was an infant at the time and we call him BooBoo. We also have a 5 pound Chihuahua named Lucy. I call her LuLu Bean because she’s so small. I took BooBoo and Bean and the rest is history. The funny thing is that BooBoo and Bean have never really gotten along! Our name is catchy and something to talk about. It’s also reflective of our homestyle cafe and bakery.
KRL: What all do you carry?
Jenny: We have homestyle baked goods, our Banana Walnut Bread is our number one selling item. We also offer breakfast sandwiches, salads and sandwiches for lunch, full espresso bar and catering.
KRL: Do you make your own bakery items?
Jenny: Yes! We are a homestyle bakery specializing in items reminiscent of what your grandma and mom used to make. I say our baked goods are meant to taste good not necessarily look pretty!
KRL: What are some of your most popular items and coffees?
Jenny: Banana walnut bread, cinnamon rolls, Gracie’s Chicken Salad Sandwich (named after our daughter), our Heat and Eat Meals (fresh made microwaveable meals for those who don’t want the hassle of cooking a “home cooked “ meal, fresh baked pies and quiche.
KRL: Sounds yummy! Where do you get your coffee beans from?
Jenny: It’s a proprietary blend we source locally.
KRL: What makes your Café unique?
Jenny: We cook the way we cook for our family. Hearty, well-seasoned food served with care. We take pride in our service and products and want our guests to feel like they’re part of our family. We know our customers by name and love meeting and getting to know new ones! We do a little happy dance when someone comes in and says that we were recommended by someone they know. It’s exciting and a true testament to the fact that we’re doing things right…making great food and great service! With so many choices in todays world of where to eat next, we’re honored to see people return time and time again.
KRL: With winter finally on its way, what is your favorite hot coffee drink that you serve?
Jenny: Our Dirty Chai and Caramel Almond Roca lattes are sure to please everyone’s palate!
KRL: Do you also own Papa Gatto’s?
Jenny: Yes! Papa Gatto’s is our new virtual kitchen located inside BooBoo Bean. (Same hours as BooBoo Bean). Right now we’re only available on DoorDash but we just started the process of creating a mobile ordering app and online ordering site. We anticipate them to be complete around Early to mid-December 2022.
Jenny
KRL: Anything you would like to add?
Jenny: We will once again be offering holiday feasts for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. They’re fully cooked and ready to heat and eat! We offer pies, dinner feasts, brunch, take and bake items, and more. We also offer charcuterie boards and appetizers.
BooBoo Bean Bakery and Café
Corner of Bullard and West in Fresno at 2063 W Bullard Avenue
559-570-8093
BooBoobeancafe@yahoo[dot]com
Open: Monday – Friday 9:30 to 3.
Saturdays and Sundays open for small gatherings, private events, and catering.
www.facebook.com/BooBooBeanBakeryCafe
booboobeancafe.com
You can find them on DoorDash and they hope to launch their own mobile app and online ordering on their website in 2023.
Thank you for the wonderful article, it highlights all that is BooBoo Bean. Homestyle cooking, lovely hospitality, and warmth, not to mention the amazing food and drinks. I was there the first day they opened and frequent often, everything is delicious, especially the banana bread, lemon cookies, almond Rocha frappe, chicken salad, homemade salad dressings, the heat and eat meals, the Thanksgiving meal….