Cafe Madeleine Opens New Concept in Barrio Logan

Originally published Cafe Madeleine Opens New Concept in Barrio Logan on July 12, 2025 03:42 by https://www.sdbj.com/food/restaurants/cafe-madeleine-opens-new-concept-in-barrio-logan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cafe-madeleine-opens-new-concept-in-barrio-logan at San Diego Business Journal

SAN DIEGO – “I used to ask myself when I first opened the business, ‘What is my purpose? Am I just supposed to pour and sell coffee? What does this mean for me?’” Cafe Madeleine Restaurant Group founder and CEO Christine Perez recalled. “I started to realize that people needed to connect.”

When she launched Cafe Madeleine’s first location in South Park in 2010, Perez still taught for San Diego Unified School District. As the French-inspired community cafe developed, she gave it her full attention.

“I took a chance when I left the school district,” Perez said. “I had summers off, my pension, my health care—everything—and I walked away. That was really hard for me. But I knew if I wanted to grow this business, I had to take that leap of faith. So, I did it, and it paid off.”

Fifteen years after its founding, Cafe Madeleine has become a neighborhood staple, with a second location in North Park, which opened in 2015. Since 2022, Cafe Madeleine has experienced 20% to 23% growth year-over-year.

On June 25, Perez embarked on a new chapter with the opening of Madeleine, a fresh sister concept to her other cafes, in Barrio Logan. About $200,000 was invested in the location.
At Madeleine, Perez embraces her Mexican American heritage with a menu and space that fuses French-inspired cafe culture with thoughtful Latin touches. The spot resides on the ground level of Los Patios, the $9 million apartment complex completed in 2023 and inspired by Mexican tenements.

“I have an entrepreneurial spirit. I like challenges,” Perez said. “And I found that I love vibrant, colorful neighborhoods with soul. I’m driven to become part of that. I don’t think I knew that before, but this location solidified it for me. I realized, ‘This is what you’re seeking. You’re seeking community.’”

Expanding Alongside Barrio Logan

Selecting Barrio Logan as the home for Madeleine was not always in the game plan. When the storefront became available, Perez’s son and Cafe Madeleine Operations Director Dante Angotti urged her to seize the opportunity. Initially, Perez was nervous about the lack of other businesses in proximity.

On a walking tour of the location with her son, however, Perez’s vision came into focus.
“I realized that this neighborhood’s resilience is similar to my story,” Perez said. “It’s diverse, colorful, vibrant and community culture matters.”

Adhering to Cafe Madeleine’s European-inspired menu and aesthetics did not feel right for Barrio Logan. Rebranding the location was a move made to diversify the company’s offerings, innovate and integrate with the local business and cultural scene.

“We are from two different generations,” Angotti said. “Both of us connect the dots with Cafe Madeleine, which is more old school, and Madeleine, which is a new, modern take bringing in two types of cuisine and cultures.”

About six new employees have been hired at the new location. Perez predicts that Madeleine will be a “high revenue space” for the company. Creating a welcoming environment will drive that growth, said Perez. According to her, the project felt like “something the neighborhood was looking for.”

While Barrio Logan has been historically overlooked, it has become an emerging neighborhood in recent years. Perez foresees even more small businesses and development projects joining the community.

“I hope that, as that level of gentrification happens, we’re still able to keep Barrio Logan colorful, that we’re able to keep the community base who they are,” Perez said. “I don’t want to lose that aspect, because that’s what gives this community soul.”

Madeleine is slated to host community events, live music and more.

“We have the highest respect for our community. Stepping into this project, we want to bring grace, a humble heart and genuine honesty,” Perez said. “We’re not trying to transform your neighborhood. We want you to transform us.”

Thoughtful, Mission-Driven Growth

This August, Café Madeleine will be opening a grab-and-go coffee stand inside the County Building at Waterfront Park. The expansion is a way for the company to solidify its brand and represent San Diego.

Just next door to Madeleine, Perez and Angotti have taken over another vacant storefront at Los Patios. The previous group that rented the space did not have the funds to complete the project, but finished the foundation, trenching and permitting for the site.

Six months ago, Perez and Angotti started working with developers on the space, which the pair imagines as a wine bar or tequila tasting room. The new concept, led by Angotti, will have a full liquor license and use Madeleine’s kitchen. While the vision has not been solidified, the location is projected to open before Christmas.

“We’re really trying to activate this main corridor from Barrio Logan to East Village,” Angotti said.

After this set of projects, Perez anticipates a pause in further expansion until they are settled in. She hopes to root her mission in each new space.

“If I could give anything to my kids, it’s teaching them that they have an obligation to take care of others,” Perez said. “It’s not just about the transaction—it’s about the connection.”

Cafe Madeleine Restaurant Group
FOUNDED: 2010
CEO: Christine Perez
HEADQUARTERS: San Diego
BUSINESS: Food & Beverage
EMPLOYEES: About 40
REVENUE: 20-23% growth year over year since 2022
WEBSITE: www.cafemadeleinesd.com
CONTACT: [email protected]
SOCIAL IMPACT: Cafe Madeleine is committed to supporting the community by actively participating in local events like the SoNo Fest & Chili Cook-Off in South Park and Sabor del Barrio in Barrio Logan, celebrating and uplifting vibrant neighborhoods.
NOTABLE: This year Cafe Madeleine Restaurant Group is celebrating its 15th anniversary.

Born and raised in San Diego, Madison takes great pride in local storytelling. Her coverage at the San Diego Business Journal includes tourism, hospitality, nonprofits, education and retail. An alumna of San Diego State University’s journalism program, she has written for publications including The San Diego Union-Tribune and The San Diego Sun. At the 2024 San Diego Press Club awards, Madison was recognized for her exemplary profile writing. She was also a speaker for the 2023 TEDx Conference at Bonita Vista High School. When she’s not working on her next story, Madison can be found performing music at a local restaurant or on one of San Diego’s many hiking trails.

Originally published San Diego Business Journal