The Talent Cafe in Talent, Oregon Gains New Ownership

When Denise O'Brien first moved to Talent in December 2005, she would often stop at the Talent Cafe for breakfast. She moved here from Hawaii and had owned a nail salon there, so she assumed she would get a license to practice Cosmetology in Oregon and open up another salon here. As it so often happens when we think we have our lives all mapped out, plans changed. Somehow a paperwork snafu occurred about the same time that The Talent Cafe was being offered for sale and her life took a different course when she decided to buy the Cafe.

"Someone was talking about turning this place into a wine bar and I just couldn't let that happen. I decided to just jump right in," she says. "I really like it because I can help feed people, be a part of the community and help a few people along the way." Denise's friendliness and spirit is evident as she pauses to say hello to a customer using his first name and asks how he is doing. The small town atmosphere of Talent is reflected in the Cafe and she likes being right in the middle of town, within walking distance for many customers.

Denise is the kind of person who recognizes that it is important to try and help others and she mentions that she feeds a few senior citizens whether they can afford to pay or not. It is this kind of attitude and commitment that makes the Talent Cafe such an important part of our community. There was also the homeless guy and his dog. "This guy had this poor little dog that I could tell really needed medical attention, so I got on the phone and bartered with a local vet and the dog got the help he needed. These are the kinds of things I can do," she says.

The Talent Cafe, once known for being a place to have breakfast or lunch, is now open for dinner. "We offer great tasting, freshly prepared food. I make homemade baked goods daily. We don't ever hear any bad comments and it is such a friendly place," she says. "My crew is wonderful and it feels like a family here."

"When I bought this place, it really needed a woman's touch. We've done some upgrades and showcase local artwork on the walls. From my salon days, I understand the importance of good service, so I've been able to carry that into The Talent Cafe. I think of our customers as people we've invited into our home and I hope that every guest feels that important."