Owner Tom Mekaj opened the Conroe establishment in 2011. Originally from Albania, Mekaj moved to New York City 20 years ago at the age of 15 and started working in a restaurant as a busboy.
Mekaj said he wanted to own a restaurant of his own in Texas and eventually opened two Italian restaurants, both named Bella Luna, in Austin and Katy.
But he said he and his wife, Elvane, found a permanent home in Conroe about seven years ago. In 2011, Mekaj seized the opportunity to open 105 Cafe at the former location of Egg Cetera while working as a manager for another restaurant. Today, the cafe offers a variety of healthy breakfast and lunch options.
“Conroe was growing fast with a lot of young people coming to town, so it seemed like there was a need for a healthy restaurant like this,” Mekaj said. “But biscuits and gravy and chicken-fried steak have their place in Texas so we wanted to find a happy medium for everyone.”
Mekaj said the first six months were not easy as he attempted to rebrand the restaurant away from its former identity.
“Some things worked and some things didn’t, but we listened to the customers and asked them to be patient with us,” Mekaj said. “We have fresh food, made from scratch, and I try to keep everything at a reasonable price. Those two things and our relationships with customers makes a difference.”
Mekaj said the cafe’s breakfast skillets are particularly popular with customers.
“The skillets are a big hit, and one of my favorites is the Irishman skillet made with corn beef that we braise in-house,” Mekaj said. “We serve large portions; we don’t skimp. So I joke with the customers, especially the retired ones, and tell them lunch is on me because they take half the meal home with them.”
The cafe also offers a variety of lunch options, including sandwiches, wraps, salads, hamburgers and seafood.
Lunch favorites range from chicken salad, club sandwiches, smoked chicken wraps and Greek salad to half-pound Angus burgers and mahi mahi fish and chips. Mekaj said the fresh chicken salads is prepared with dried cranberries, celery, red onions, dill and mustard and topped with crispy bacon, avocado and Swiss cheese.
“I know everyone sells chicken salad, but not like this,” Mekaj said.
The owner said cafe staff work to develop relationships with the customers, adding that about 80 percent of his customers visit the establishment regularly.
“It has a small-town feel here, like the restaurants you see in movies where customers walk in and everybody knows each other’s names,” Mekaj said. “I make a living as a restaurant owner, but it is rewarding knowing the people here and helping them. Nothing brings warmth to a person like food.”
105 Cafe
3010 W. Davis St., Conroe
936-539-3447
www.105cafe.com
Hours: Sun.-Sat. 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
