Star Life Cafe fueled by repeat customers

For more than two decades there have been poetry readings on the last Friday of each month at 1405 N.E. 50th St., currently called the Star Life on the Oasis Cafe. Until now, the readings had always been hosted by poetry enthusiast Dobbie Norris.

Star Life has a following similar to other established cafes such as Cafe Roma and Solstice on the Ave. While Cafe Roma and Solstice have sought to increase their popularity, Star Life capitalizes on the relationship it establishes with its patrons as a cafe with special ambience created by its employees and eclectic layout. The cafe is conjoined with the Grand Illusion Theater; many patrons do not realize that the theater and Star Life have different owners.

Star Life was formerly known as the Still Life Cafe. A change of ownership occurred last November when local entrepreneur Wing Lo, 31, bought the cafe to pursue his dream of owning a business.

"We pretty much didn't change the style from the Still Life because they created a very comfortable, homelike style for the cafe, and I would keep it this way but only do it better," Lo said.

Lo spent 15 years in the food-service industry before acquiring the cafe. Having spent 10 years fusing Japanese and Italian foods, Lo said he knew it was time to move on.

"I'm trying to create a better environment that people can enjoy rather than focusing on myself and making a bunch of money," Lo said. "I focus so that people can enjoy themselves here."

Norris' monthly readings had been a facet of Star Life when it was the Still Life Cafe and, for a short time, Lo and barista Daniel Casaletto worried Norris would begin holding readings at a different venue. Casaletto saw this as an opportunity to use his experience as a poet to continue to bring poetry to Star Life.

Lo was receptive to Casaletto's idea of having a poetry slam followed by an open-mic session every Friday. He thought it would offer Star Life's patrons an even more distinct experience.

"We're trying to get these poetry competitions together to save the Seattle art scene," Casaletto said. "I think we need some necromancy -- CPR's out of the question at this point."

Though Star Life's first poetry event on July 23 was poorly attended, Casaletto said that it only meant he did not post enough fliers throughout the U-District and in businesses in other districts.

Casaletto is relatively new to the Seattle area, having moved here from Chicago in October of last year, just before Lo bought Star Life. As a way of bringing together artists and people he finds interesting he hosts an after-party at his house on Greek Row.

Lo said employees like Casaletto are part of Star Life's appeal. The cafe's friendly atmosphere plays a pivotal role in attracting customers.

"The most important thing about making the customer comfortable is the employee. [We want to help] the employees feel better [about] coming here every day and able to serve the customer," Lo said.

While Lo is confident in his staff, some of whom work at Still Life, he still wants to push the quality of his service farther. Lo works at the cafe from opening to closing most days. He says the cafe is understaffed.

"You see me here all the time and I'm always trying to make sure everything is OK for the next day's breakfast," Lo said. "The first thing I do upon opening is check the coffee, make sure all the vegetables have been rotated and make sure all the sandwiches and bread are fresh. I'm basically spending all my time here."

His goal is to proceed slowly and not make grand gestures regarding works-in-progress until they are almost completed. Lo said he wants to focus on strengthening rather than changing Star Life's menu as well as hiring additional employees. He said he hopes this will cause his customer base to be even more satisfied, thereby enticing others to become patrons.

"The main reason I'm open until midnight is that most of the people who come want to sit down and study and have a bit of coffee," Lo said. "At night time, customers know this place and bring their friends."