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No, Mix Cafe, don’t go!

By Catherine Toth Fox • January 28, 2014 • Food

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It was probably the most depressing news I’ve heard in awhile, at least when it comes to Hawaii’s restaurant scene.

My favorite sandwich shop, Mix Cafe, on Alakea Street in downtown is closing.

The rumors circulating pointed at Dec. 31, 2013 as its last day. But I wandered into the shop this morning — I was in downtown for an appointment — and found owner Bruno Iezzi behind the counter.

And yes, there were still sandwiches, too.

“I heard you were closing,” I told him.

“Ah, yes,” he replied. “You heard right.”

Turns out, Iezzi was supposed to close up at the end of last year. But the new tenant needs more time, so Mix Cafe will likely stick around until April.

Which is good news for me, since there really isn’t any place in Honolulu — that I know of, anyway — that serves authentic European-style sandwiches, much of which (including the bread) is made fresh and from scratch.

“Don’t go!” I whined.

“Thank you,” was all he said.

Iezzi, who was born and raised in Italy, opened Mix Cafe in February 2007 in downtown. He moved to this location on Alakea Street a few years ago.

He’s been working hard for years — from culinary school in Italy to working in kitchens from London to New York City — and he said he just wants a rest. (Iezzi also runs Bruno’s Forno in Chinatown.)

“I need a break,” he told me, smiling.

“What are you planning to do? Travel?”

“No,” he said. “I plan to sleep.”

I’m glad this hard-working restauranteur is taking some time for himself. But did he have to take away my favorite sandwiches, too?

Mix Cafe, I will miss you.

But until you actually close, I will be there as often as I can for my usual order of an Italian sandwich, hold the salad.

And you should, too.

Alakea StreetBruno IezziBruno's Fornocafedowntown HonoluluEuropean-style sandwichesHawaiiMix CafeMix Cafe closing
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About the Author

Catherine Toth Fox

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8 Comments

  • Reply Jocelyn January 28, 2014 at 2:11 pm

    Say it ain’t so! I absolutely love their sandwiches and eat there often. Guess I’ll have to get my fill before it closes.

  • Reply David Jackson January 28, 2014 at 5:01 pm

    Well, maybe if you get tons of people eating tons of sandwiches they will stay or move somewhere easy to find. Or Cat, you could become a partner…

  • Reply Dennis January 28, 2014 at 9:24 pm

    OMG! What’s happening to all our favorite local eatery’s? I’ll wait till the lights go out!!!!!

  • Reply Glenn D January 29, 2014 at 5:54 am

    It is always sad to hear of your favorite place closing. But believe me, guys are in the restaurant business because they love it. They like making people happy and usually cannot stay away from feeding others and sharing their food. Restaurant business is break breaking work with long hours. I hope Iezzi gets the break he needs. If it is any consolation, I bet he will be back with his sandwiches sometime, somewhere soon. Until then, all we can do is wait. Please tell Iezzi good luck and mahalos for the great grinds.

    • Reply Glenn D January 29, 2014 at 6:30 am

      Damn ‘auto correct’… meant, “Restaurant business is BACK breaking work…”

  • Reply Annoddah Dave January 29, 2014 at 7:12 am

    CAT: Never had the pleasure. The sign picture and words say “si-si oui-oui” presumably means an Italian French sandwich? French bread with Italian salame?

  • Reply M January 29, 2014 at 8:34 am

    I still have time!

  • Reply Dennis January 29, 2014 at 1:45 pm

    I just bought a Tuna Sandwich (with Salad) from Mix and it’s great! Olives, cheese, tuna, a hard boil egg and tomato. I talked with Iezzi and he didn’t know what I was talking about regarding the Cat Dish. I showed him my iphone and he broke out with a smile and his big Italian eyes. He’s on a month to month lease and thinks the landlord has someone interested in the space. Better hurry down for your last sandwiches. By the way, the Ginger Lemon drink is terrific!

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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