Coffee shops today are in the business of providing quick, convenient service to their customers, often while incorporating complicated menu options and lacking a personal connection.
Located at 3057 Government St. and born out of a desire to bring it back to the basics, Simple Joe Cafe and Confectionary brings new options in a comfortable setting to Mid City Baton Rouge.
Owner and head chef Sean Braswell lives in the area and wanted to open a business that would fill in a missing component of the neighborhood.
“You pretty much have everything you need in Mid City,” Braswell said. “But there are very few places to eat, and the only place you can get breakfast is downtown.”
Walking into Simple Joe, customers are greeted by a large, open space filled with tables bearing contrasting styles of collage art and the wafting scents of an open kitchen.
Inspiration for the focus on art came from being located in an art-driven area.
The tables feature art from DC Comics, Braswell’s pictures from trips to New York, as well as portraits of local buildings and teams.
“We want to be able to relate to anybody,” Braswell said.
The menu includes breakfast classics, like eggs, pancakes, grits and french toast along with sandwiches and chocolates. It also offers healthier choices, like homemade granola and smoked salmon.
As for the other menu items, Braswell notes that exclusivity is one of the most important aspects for running a business.
Simple Joe is one of the few places where customers can find fresh-brewed coffee from River Road Coffees and chocolates that are made from Braswell’s mother’s recipe.
However, the restaurant was not always meant to be multi-faceted.
Originally, Braswell planned to only focus on chocolates, but the desire to give people more of a reason to come inside produced adding coffee and cafe options.
Since opening, the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.
But the restaurant’s launch wouldn’t have gone as smoothly without the help of Braswell’s close friend and chef Griouard Weddington.
“We talked about this years ago, so I wasn’t going to let him open without me coming in and giving him a hand,” Weddington said.
Weddington also was responsible for coming up with the quinoa and homemade granola healthier menu options.
“Health is in right now,” said Weddington. “We have a CrossFit next door and a lot of people working out in the area, so I thought let’s give them those options.”
“I want to be able to entice anybody to come here and eat, have a cup of coffee or just enjoy the chocolate,” Braswell said.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Olivia Ramirez

The daily menu of Simple Joe Cafe hangs for customers to view as they walk in to order on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015.