“We’re really excited about it,” she said. “We’ve gotten such a great response from Fairfield, the city’s been amazing. Everybody seems really excited about it and about the food because it’s something different.”
Portillo was part of in the Mayor’s Tour series of videos on Facebook by Fairfield Mayor Steve Miller.
“I think you really fill a niche that’s something we’ve been looking for here,” Miller said in the video.
FAIRFIELD BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT - Sandwich Cafe and Deli: Check out this video of Mayor Miller with Melissa at the...
Posted by City of Fairfield, Ohio - Government on Wednesday, August 26, 2020
The Sandwich Cafe & Deli previously opened in Fairfield Twp. in 2017, but the location wasn’t ideal. While there was some growth, it was not sustainable, she said. The Fairfield location in the city’s downtown is “perfect for our kind of food” as it caters to “more of the lunch crowd.”
The Sandwich Cafe & Deli will feature wraps, bagel sandwiches, paninis and salads, but it will specialize in atmosphere, , said the single mother of four.
“We wanted it to not be the corporate feel, but homey,” said Portillo. “So when people come in they feel like they could come in and hang out.”
Her oldest daughter, Hannah Cortez, a 23-year-old art major at Miami University in Oxford, led the way to create the artwork inside the restaurant. Her other three children, Harlin Portillo, 7, Hayden Portillo, 12, and Haylee Portillo, 17, were also involved in creating the decor.
Portillo is also a nurse and she self-financed the opening of her restaurant.
“I love nursing, but I wanted something different on the side, too,” Portillo said. “I wanted a cool hangout place, but it differently grew in from a cool hangout spot coffee and some sandwiches, it grew into a restaurant really quick. I just loved it.”
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