Oxen's Cafe: A perfect blend of coffee and camaraderie
A good talk is always accompanied by a great cup of coffee. No wonder why coffee shops are almost everywhere. But do you know that there's this one place that is brewing more than just a cup of caffiene?
Since the Oxen Cafe at the Mary Mart Mall opened last September of 2005, the name has become synonymous to great coffee and exceptionally homey atmosphere. It is because Oxen's doesn't only exist to cater the caffiene needs of their costumers. Behind the fast-rising name in the cafe business is a deep friendship.
Five certified coffee-lovers conceptualized the birth of the Oxen's. Asia United Bank Manager Alfonso Go, Echo Steel Manager and Architect Raymond Ko, Ink World's Paquito Ngo, A+ Finance Corp and Sterling Manpower & Consultancy's Edward Habidjan, and telecommunications executive Ronald So were the forces behind Oxen's 1.
"We all love having coffee whether at a coffee shop or at home... so we decided to put up one for ourselves. At first, the purpose is not to generate income but to have a place for us to get together. We called it Oxen's... from the word Ox since Edward, Ronald, Raymond, and I were born on the year of the Ox," explains Alfonso Go, who acts as their President.
"The S is for the year of the Sheep... that's for Paquito," adds Johnson Lim.
After the phenomenal success of the their first coffee shop, the group invited two of their friends -- ICSEC-KAPLAN's Johnson Lim and Allied Bank Branch Operations Head Nelson Lim. Seeing the need for a wider space to accomodate their costumers, they opened a new branch called Oxen's Down Town last May 12, 2006.
"We specifically chose its location. We want to activate the night life in the Valeria area that's why we're here," Go further elaborates.
The place is cozy and spacious. A lofty interior boasts a fusion of two worlds. The chairs and the magazine corner, filled with vibrant pillows, resembles the calm oriental ambience while the rather Western-inspired bar counter provides the ambivalent air of modernism.
"What's unique with Oxen's is that we, as a group, gather and formulate concepts to come up with a good cup of coffee. We do the same with our deli," claims Edward Habijan.
The product list is made up of surprisingly affordable yet irrisistible lines of hot and iced coffees. Teas are also available, may it be the conventional Chinese tea or the well-loved green tea. They even come in different flavors!
Unlike most cafes, beers are being served at Oxen's giving it a cafe-bar aura. "We are currently serving fries and other finger foods including brownies and kringles. We will be serving meals and mixed drinks in the future," declares Raymond Ko.
What sets Oxen's apart from other cafes is their music. Not the kind of music per se but the freedom that they entitle their clients to. It is only in Oxen's where you can bring your own CD and play it "as long as it's not too loud." This customer-empowering idea has been long practiced in Oxen's 1.
Not only that, Oxen's has an airconditioned smoking and non-smoking areas! Amazing, isn't it?
Out of their desire to provide their customers with utmost quality service, the four cafe crews -- Emmanuel, Vanessa, Emme, and Dina are subjected into training. Currently, they are on their third module.
"Since most of our customers are professionals, we have to professionalize our team to efficiently cater our clients," says Mr. Go.
For those who are looking for an ideal place for transacting business or for those who wants to chill out with friends, Oxen's Down Town will surely match your needs. The possibilities of having new friends are endless.
"Since we founded this business out of friendship, we want our customers to experience the same. We introduce our frequent customers to our loyal clients so as to establish good camaraderie among them," states Johnson Lim.
Oxen's Down Town is open from 8:30 am to 12 midnight all days of the week. Visit Oxen's and discover and experience the difference.