Nice Day

How did this place come about and what made it different from the beginning?
The name Nice Day comes from the phrase “Have a Nice Day”, specifically from the text printed on the bottom of the plastic take-out bags so common in Chinese-American restaurants in the United States. When we met (Nery and Shirley), we wanted to build something together that reflected our hybrid experiences and cultures. That simple phrase came to mind, and we felt it was the perfect fit. Nice Day represents what we strive for, both literally and metaphorically: a hybrid experience expressed in our offering, in the experience we want our customers to receive, and in the way we grow our team and business.

What part of the day, space, or creative process do those who work here enjoy the most?
We always try to hire for talent and potential. From there, we work hard behind the scenes to cultivate and support that growth. And then we step aside to let the magic happen.

If someone is coming for the first time, what shouldn't they miss?
Coffee. And bread.

What has been an interesting challenge that made you rethink something about the project?
Growing up fast taught us that too much optimization can kill the vibe. We had to redesign our systems to protect the magic, not stifle it.

What influence, idea or reference continues to guide what you do today?
We challenge ourselves every day-getting a little bit better every day is part of our DNA.

What place, project or person has inspired you recently and why?
We love to feed off the good vibes of our close and talented friends, whom we also trust a lot.

If your space could invite someone to collaborate for a day, who would it be and what would you do together?
Probably the best fermentation specialist we can find, if you know him, send him to us!

Is there an object, corner or detail of the place that has a story that few people know about?
The Chinese letters next to our cat logo in our first store: people often think they say something like. “Nice Day” or “Good Coffee”, but they actually say “We have Wi-Fi.”. It was an inside joke that came out of the original struggle to name the coffee shop-we started pointing out features, and that stuck as the name of the project for months as we worked out the whole concept.

If this project were a city, a book, or a record, which would it be and why?
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - I Learned the Hard Way. The album is full of emotions, learning and growth, and the range of emotions in some ways probably resembles the road we've had to get here. And it's also super funky - Sharon Jones forever!

Responses by Nery N. + Shirley S., founders of Nice Day.