'It is all much harder for the smaller guys.' Kristi Marie's shutters in Redwood City

Uploaded: Mar 2, 2020

Kristi Marie's closed Friday after five years of business in downtown Redwood City.

"We found success through you, our wonderful guests who supported us over the past five years," reads a sign posted to the cafe's Instagram last week. "Thank you for allowing us to be who we are."

Kristi Marie's namesake-owner Kristi Borrone (right) with employees Wendell Prieto (left) and Christian Masulit in 2018. Photo by Natalia Nazarova.

Namesake-owner Kristi Borrone of local Borrone family fame opened the small 318 Arguello St. cafe with her husband, Zu Tarazi, in 2015. Kristi Marie's drew a devoted local following for its "OG" breakfast sandwich, pastries, burger and other casual fare.

Neither owner could be immediately reached for comment.

"Please keep supporting the independent shops in Redwood City, or in any city for that matter," the closure sign reads. "It is all much harder for the smaller guys."

Tarazi runs nearby wine bar BottleShop, which serves Kristi Marie's focaccia. The couple also owned the now-closed Station 1 in Woodside.

A selection of baked goods from Kristi Marie's in Redwood City. Photo by Natalia Nazarova.

Comments

Posted by Anon, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood,
on Mar 2, 2020 at 10:38 am

"It is all much harder for the smaller guys."

That says it all.

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Posted by charles reilly , a resident of another community,
on Mar 3, 2020 at 4:15 am

Here on the Peninsula, City Governments have TOTALLY ENCOURAGED property values to go crazy. Small businesses, especially restaurants, are competing for space with huge office and luxury apartment buildings. Redwood City has approved enough office space for 30,000 new jobs!

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Posted by Allie, a resident of another community,
on Mar 3, 2020 at 8:23 am

I would have loved to go to Kristi Marie's, but their hours were incredibly limited.

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Posted by Michael Perez (Owner-QWERTY Education Services), a resident of Menlo Park,
on Mar 4, 2020 at 5:22 pm

You are correct, Charles Reilly. I would add that we, as a citizenry that has allowed it, bear responsibility as well.

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Posted by The Price Is Not Right, a resident of another community,
on Mar 6, 2020 at 3:52 pm

Judging by the $9.00 hoagie sign in the window, it's no wonder.

That's way too much to be charging for a sandwich...$7.50 is about right.

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Posted by Greg Dineen, a resident of Evergreen Park,
on Mar 7, 2020 at 6:44 am

You are incorrect, Charles Reilly, the zoning for commercial office, retail, and apartment buildings is different so they are not competing. That doesn't mean that the rent for restaurant space is cheap though.

The struggle is the $15.38 minimum wage, rent, overhead, and the growing reluctance of consumers to spend that kind of money on coffee, pastries, and sandwiches no matter how good they are, especially given the different demographics of Redwood City compared to Menlo Park or Palo Alto.

They also had to pay the rent with the amount of business that they good generate by being open only 35 hours a week, 7am-2pm Monday-Friday.

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'It is all much harder for the smaller guys.' Kristi Marie's shutters in Redwood City

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