Small Business Spotlight: Mama’s Boy Cafe in Manayunk, Philadelphia
Mama’s Boy Cafe is one of the newest additions to Philadelphia’s Mayaunk neighborhood, situated right on Main Street and sharing a large, airy building with Fat Lady Brewing Company. Today, I sat down with the owner of Mama’s Boy Cafe, Yaseen Elzalabany, and he gave me the full scoop on the newest coffee shop in the ‘Yunk, and what customers can expect when they stop in for a cup of joe.
Mama’s Boy Cafe: seasonal drinks, good vibes, and beyond
As I sat down with Yaseen (over a delcious cup of Mama’s Boy coffee— a dirty chai made from his secret, homemade chai recipe), he and I discussed the following:
Q: First, I have to ask about the name. Why “Mama’s Boy”?
A: My parents have always been in the restaurant industry. We immigrated from Alexandria, Egypt, to the Lehigh Valley when I was young, and my parents have a restaurant out there called “Mo’s Eatery,” named after my dad, Mohamed. So, as a mama’s boy, I wanted this one to be named in honor of my mom— so Mama’s Boy it is!
Q: I love that! So family is an important part of this for you?
A: For sure. Many of the speciality drinks are named after my family— my mom, my dad, my little brother, and my best friend, the artist Botanical Funk.
Q: Botanical Funk— did they do the logo for Mama’s Boy, too?
A: Yep, and a lot of the art prints in and around the cafe. I just love the look of it, and he’s been one of my best friends for some time. This painting on the wall is called “Paper Chaser”— and I love that. That it’s bright and colorful, but also makes you think. Life isn’t all about the money, of course, but it’s a reminder to work hard, and how hard I’ve worked to achieve this, too.
Q: Right— and you have poured a ton of work into this, clearly! Tell me how this all came about, opening your own coffee shop?
A: So, I’m only 22. However, why should that stop me from doing what I want in life? I work hard— I’ve worked hundred hour weeks leading up to this point, working toward my goals. One day, while bartending at Fat Lady Brewing, I was thinking about how this space used to be a coffee shop, and that it was for rent— and I just took my savings and went for it. I decided to open the coffee shop and build something for myself, and for people like me. That’s why I’m starting a scholarship, too— “The Mama’s Boy Foundation” scholarship, which will help kids from lower income areas go to college and pursue their dreams, too.
Q: That’s amazing. So a lot of this boiled down to a strong work ethic, and living your dreams. Is that what you want people to feel when they’re here for their morning cup of coffee, or their weekend coffee date?
A: For sure. I want to make people feel warm, at home, give them a positive experience and show other people out there that they can go for it and live their dreams, too. Actually, we’re starting a line of positive affirmation cups soon— so every cup of coffee you get will have a positive affirmation printed on it to start your day off on the right foot. Little things like that to build people up and be a force for positivity in their lives, and then more broadly in the community with the Foundation and so on.
Q: You’re doing a great job so far! This place is great. What’s in the future? Any parting thoughts for readers?
A: We’re focused on staying here for the next year and staying with building the brand— but expansion is something we definitely look forward to in the future. As for parting thoughts, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes: “Someone’s getting paid to do exactly what you wanna do, so it might as well be you.”
Mama’s Boy Cafe is open for business and located right inside Fat Lady Brewing at 4323 Main Street, Philadelphia. Check it out, and grab a homemade cup of joe as you stroll the street!
Photo: @rachaelshootsphilly
