Nearly three years after opening its doors in Glen Rock, Honey Day Cafe has become a staple in the community. This is not the first time that owner Linda Yoo has shared her story—her journey to opening up her dream brunch spot has been covered before.
But beyond the origins of the restaurant, Yoo has successfully built a small business from the ground up. And her experiences as a small business owner shed light on the challenges and triumphs of the business.
Yoo worked as a server at a restaurant in her college days, “I should’ve known then what I know now, which is that I love the hospitality industry,” Yoo said.
Fast forward through many corporate jobs and starting a family, Yoo decided that she “wanted to open a cafe, [but she had] (…) no experience.”
Through her church, Yoo met the owner of a New York City bagel franchise. He gave her the opportunity to join a partnership with him, and he became her mentor. For four years, Yoo worked at the bagel stores, doing everything from washing floors to managing staff and handling online orders.
Right after leaving her partnership, Yoo found an open storefront on Rock Road. Yoo said, “I came out of the partnership and quickly (…) realized that this space was open and that my concept, which had always been a Korean-inspired brunch restaurant, didn’t exist anywhere.”
Honey Day Cafe opened its doors at the end of 2022. Yoo said that she “couldn’t have imagined that response,” and that she wished she had had the experience she has now to handle that surge. She stated that “[those] first six months were volatile.”
“Honey Day has a welcoming atmosphere and the customer service is friendly and attentive,” says longtime customer, Daniela De Isusi.
“Coming into that first summer,” Yoo said, “we kind of hit our stride.” Between June and August, Honey Day saw another surge. This, Yoo said, can be attributed to the college students home for break. However, it was temporary. And, according to Yoo, September showed the ebbs and flows of the market.
In November, Yoo had decided that being open six days a week was not sustainable for her business. But before making the shift, Yoo had to check with her employees. Yoo said, “I wouldn’t be able to survive if my team wasn’t on board,” but “it was a resounding yes.”
Despite Honey Day’s astounding success, issues still present themselves. Entering 2025, Yoo decided that marketing was her biggest priority, as well as becoming a mainstay in the Glen Rock community.
But the most rewarding aspect of being a small business owner, Yoo says, is that her “family is thriving, the kids are growing, and we’re solidly in the Glen Rock community now, and this business continues to grow and thrive.”
