What’s better than starting your day on the sunny side of life with home-style food in a comfortable setting?
Mike Stasko, president of Sunny Street Café, recently spoke with The Dallas Express about the Ohio-based breakfast and lunch restaurant’s growth to 22 corporate and franchised locations throughout the United States, which include seven cafés in DFW.
Sunny Street Café is a family-owned restaurant chain founded by Mike’s father, Michael J. Stasko Sr., a restaurant industry veteran. In 2007, Stasko Sr. signed a territory agreement for the franchise in Ohio, but he eventually decided to purchase the entire company and change its name to Sunny Street Café.
Mike explained that Stasko Sr. purchased the company to work with his daughter and two sons. This move allowed the family to create a unique restaurant concept that focuses on quality food, exceptional service, and a welcoming atmosphere.
“I have been involved since the restaurant’s inception, as well as my brother and sister,” explained Mike, adding that he took over as president from his father in early 2024.
“My brother is head chef and corporate trainer, and my sister is director of off-premise and catering, which is a huge portion of our business,” he said.
With the continued popularity of the café, Mike said the family is focusing on “controlled growth.” He noted that his family owns 10 of the restaurants, and the 12 are franchised. As such, his family continues to have “some skin in the game” and is sensitive to making “sound, wise decisions that will embrace the concept while helping the company to grow.”
“Given that we are a family-first organization, we do not want to build out something that is not sustainable,” explained Mike, noting that DFW is a hot spot for expansion, according to a real estate analysis.
“We think Dallas-Fort Worth is a 15- to 20-store market for us,” said Mike, noting that they are open to interested parties who want to become franchisees.
He said that the café was committed to adapting to the changing economic climate while keeping customer satisfaction as its top priority.
“We have a solid model and benchmarks” that allow the café to adjust accordingly to inflation and respond in a way that does not “disengage or disenchant the customer,” Mike said.
Sunny Street Café continues to be a popular destination for both patrons and employees. Mike said they offer affordable, made-from-scratch American-style food, a friendly environment, and one-shift hiring hours, making it a win-win for all. The café is open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., allowing for ease of management and flexibility for its employees.
“With the hard stop at 2:30 p.m., we believe in allowing employees to end their workday to spend time with their families,” said Mike.
He emphasized that their culture is paramount, stating that the company focuses on “food that makes your day better. In a place that makes you feel comfortable.”
“People want to be a part of a community,” explained Mike, noting that the relational aspect extends to patrons and employees. “We have employees who have worked with us for 10 to 15 years in some locations.”
The vibe is as excellent as the food, with people finding their favorite menu items that “make their tastebuds go ‘WOW,’” said Mike, adding that their pancakes are hard to beat.
Everything from a “big tall stack to banana foster pancakes, to strawberry shortcake pancakes, all with our made-in-house sauces” to “kids’ dinosaur-shaped pancakes” –- there is “something for everyone,” said Mike.
When DX asked what Mike’s favorite menu item was, he responded, “We make a mean breakfast burrito. However, I have converted into a pancake lover because they are so good.”
You can try the pancakes yourself at Sunny Stree Café by visiting one of their DFW locations.