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Among the tree-lined neighborhoods of downtown Long Beach, Portfolio Café and Gallery renders culture, friendship and caffeine fixes to java junkies amidst an eclectic collection of vintage furnishings and artistic works by local artists.
The pride and purpose of proprietorship is tangible in every aspect of this eatery owned and nurtured by Kerstin Kansteiner. Providing coffee concoctions from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m., sandwiches from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and live music on Friday and Saturday nights makes Portfolio and Gallery a stop-by-any-time kind of place.
Located on the corner of Fourth Street and Junipero Avenue, Portfolio Café and Gallery, exudes the true essence of a neighborhood watering hole. The salutations and conversations of regular patrons, who account for 90 percent of the clientele, and staff, most of whom have worked at Portfolio over six years, set the newcomer at ease. Regulars are known by their names, not as "the double mocha, easy on the whip cream" guy or gal, designating Portfolio Café and Gallery as the "Cheers" of coffeehouses.
The genial ambiance of Portfolio makes it the ideal gathering place for all. Neighbors meet for chit-chat, commuters stop for a caffeine jolt, bikers to rest and students gather to study - attributing good grades to studying at a particular "lucky table."
Presenting the first coffeehouse poetry readings in Long Beach eight years ago, Portfolio earned the reputation of being on the cutting edge of artistic expression. Portfolio secures that reputation by serving as a stepping stone for many local up-and-coming artists.
Six-to-eight local visual artists are chosen each year by local illustrator Mark Sasway, a friend of Kansteiner, for solo-artist exhibitions that run from six to eight weeks each. The artist selection process is similar to that of larger galleries, including a requirement of photographic slide submission.
Kansteiner promotes each exhibiting artist by providing 500 announcement cards, 250 of which are mailed by Kansteiner to patrons and supporters within the art community. In addition, 120 press releases are sent out to various media contacts. Each new exhibition is celebrated with a wine-and-champagne style opening. "The artist will get a write-up by some publication, somewhere, due to the show," Kansteiner said.
Musical artists deliver entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights as solo and duet performers reveal a variety of melodic sounds and styles.
Providing a computer for patrons to use at a minimal fee enables Kansteiner to realize her objective of creating a place where patron-friends will feel comfortable to stay long after they finish their drink. "It may not be the most profitable [way to do business] but in the long run it works out better because they keep coming back," Kansteiner said.
Local hotels, knowledgeable of Portfolio's computer-use service and welcoming ambiance, frequently refer their guests to the coffeehouse when computer or Internet access is needed. The $4 per hour charge for computer time inadvertently includes a close-up and friendly glimpse of the city that otherwise may be missed.
Compassion and commitment to community extend beyond the front door of Portfolio. Kersteiner is an active leader in the neighborhood improvement efforts of the Fourth Street Business Association. Neighborhood residents and business owners work together during monthly street cleanup days, and local school children have assisted in garden and tree planting.
The association plays a major role in the Fourth Street redevelopment project between Cherry Avenue and Junipero. The Business Association has applied for and received a $370,000 federal Facade Improvement Grant for the second year. The money is used to paint, add lighting and enhance the appearance of store fronts, Kersteiner said.
Serving as the mainstay for the intentions of Fourth Avenue business owners, the theater on the west end, near the intersection of Fourth Street and Cherry, and Portfolio at the east end, hope to frame a pedestrian-friendly entertainment destination for future downtown residents and visitors. Kersteiner has seen a positive evolution within the area. "Eight years ago when Portfolio opened, there was nothing here. Most of the store fronts were boarded up," Kersteiner said.
More than a place to get a "cup o' Jo," relax with friends and take in local art, the Portfolio Café and Gallery is a shining example of a small business leaving its footprint in the shaping of the city.