Sweet
Success
Written By
Kimberly Ewertz
T
Josephine’s Bakery and Café
he Ford family’s heritage is as much a part of
their bakery and café as their food. As homage
to her mother, Helen Josephine, Jackie Ford, with her son
Kevin and daughter Kari Lacey opened their first family
business in September 2014. Josephine’s Bakery and Café is
located at 19500 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill.
“Like every grandmother as soon as you walked in her
house she was trying to feed you,” Kevin said.
The trio of owners and their staff offer their patrons a
friendly, welcoming atmosphere.
“We try and make you feel like you’re a part of the family
when you come in,” Kari said, adding, “We greet you and we
try and know your name.”
At Josephine’s it’s all about family, it’s even represented
on the menu.
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
“We have some things listed on the menu named after my
mom’s twin brothers. They’re no longer with us,” Kari said,
adding that they also offer the Hazen burger, named after the
patriarch of the family and the Jenna burger, which is named
after Kari’s granddaughter.
Soon after opening the bakery in Morgan Hill the family
realized the location was far from ideal and they would need
to open a second location; one that attracted foot traffic.
“It was clear early on that Morgan Hill is great, and would
afford a great clientele but it was never going to be enough
to make it, [the business] work,” Kevin said.
After an unsuccessful search in Morgan Hill late last year
Kevin spotted a ‘space available’ sign at the corner of First
and Hanna Streets in Gilroy (formerly Tasso’s Old House,
and then First Street Kitchen and Cocktails).
JUNE/JULY 2018
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