Bean there, done that

Michael A. Chaves may traffic in piping hot coffee, but the man with the tilted black brim is cucumber-cool considering this is his very first business venture. And on Del Paso Boulevard's oft-economically challenged business corridor, no less. Chaves, a part-time photographer residing in Stockton, opened Son of a Bean (1029 Del Paso Boulevard) five months ago with his two adult sons, both of whom dabble in art.

“We tore down the face of the building and the shop was born,” Chaves says. “We tried to do everything ourselves. It kept the costs down, that's for sure.”

Since then, the funky little coffeehouse has fostered that DIY spirit, inviting local artists to showcase their own creations. “Whoever wants to come in, if I've got room for you, then throw it up,” Chaves says.“My kids say I'm too easy.” So easy, in fact, that the new business owner granted an impromptu interview to the newspaper across the street to discuss the neighborhood, answering prayers and what to do when you find a crack pipe on the ground.

I’ve wanted a coffee shop that’s close to work forever, so this place answered my prayers. Did you hear them?

Yeah, I feel it coming. I feel it coming. [Laughs.]

When I lost my job in the Bay Area, I came up here to do some remodeling on this building, painting, stuff like that, and [building owner and friend Angel Garcia] had dropped it into my ear, like, “Dude, just open up a coffee shop.” And I go, “I don't know nothing about no coffee.”

I started to get all the paperwork together and read up on coffee and go to different coffeehouses here in Sacramento to get a feel for, what is it, what does it take to run a coffee shop.

Were the places that you visited receptive?

I don't know, maybe it was the way I presented myself. They didn't take me serious. Some of them didn't have time for me. I didn't really feel the warmth until I went to Chocolate Fish [Coffee Roasters] and I met [co-owners] Edie and Andy [Baker]. It was a done deal then. They were nice, and they took the time to actually educate us and really showed some concern.

What were you doing in the Bay Area?

I was working in the NUMMI plant. Tesla [Motor's] in there now. It was called New United Motor [Manufacturing Inc.]. I was there for 20 years, and then they shut the plant down. Toyota decided not to renew the contract with [General Motors Co.], so everybody got let go. Got a severance package, [they] shut the plant down and that was it, man. I was dead in the water for about three years.

This is your first stab at—

Any business.

You guys open pretty early, too.

Yeah, 7 o'clock. It used to be 6, but that was a dud.

Nobody’s ready.

Nobody's ready. The light-rail people are running for the train. They ain't got time to stop in for drinks. I try to target the light-rail [crowd], too. But, I think mainly because I heard this was an art district—this is where it all started, it's a community of artists—my main thing was displaying work from kids that are beginners.

Actually, the first lady that I displayed for, she was an older lady who just retired. She'd painted for years, but nobody wanted to show her work. She actually cried that I said, “Yeah, just bring it in.” She said, “Are you serious?” The emotion in her face said it all, to where a person can hang their stuff without being critiqued.

You got the veterinary clinic, the light-rail stop, SN&R, the probation check-in. You must get some interesting clientele.

Different characters, definitely. I had a couple of guys leave some of their stuff on the floor.

Like possessions?

Um, paraphernalia? Crack pipes. It fell out of his pocket. I had some guys sit in the corner and just talk to the pictures, then get up and leave.

Talk to the pictures?

Yeah. I learned to—way back in the day, growing up too, I don't want to be aggressive with guys that are on something, because that just turns the table. So if you treat them nice, everything's cool and you respect them, they respect it and just walk right back out.

What do you want people to know about this place?

Mainly I think it'd be more for the artists, like local artists, to know that they have a place to come. Families can bring kids. Our main thing, too, is also getting fine products in. That's why we have good coffee, we have good pastries, we want to get healthier stuff in here. Because if I'm stuck in the shop, I don't want to eat pastries all day. And I don't want to go to McDonald's. [Laughs.] If I'm going to eat here, I'd rather have something that works.