We had the good fortune of connecting with Mia Thorn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have been an Oncology Nurse for the last 13 years of my life. It has taught me so many wonderful and hard life lessons. The most poignant one is that life really is very short and absolutely precious. I have held the hands of the sick and dying and comforted the families of those who are in the thick of grief. I can’t even count how many people have left marks on my life in a lasting way. I had been there for others for 13 years and although it is a special and sacred space I was ready to allow myself into the more celebratory parts of life. I looked back and realized that it was the time I spent at a restaurant that was so full of life. friendships and the kind of community connection that is important to me.

I decided to start Cruz Kitchen & Taps with the intention that I bring into my nursing practice and that is to put people forward and cultivate a place where healing just happens to be the byproduct. We have created a place that serves delicious food, our employees are considered and trained with kindness and we make sure to source locally in order to support our local economy.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have been an Oncology Nurse for the last decade. I had sat with people and had the conversations everyone avoids. Spoke about their cancer diagnosis, asked about their fears, pried about their support system and their plans for hospice. I connected to people in the realest of ways. The “I am human and I’m destined to die too” kind of way. I am not exceptional, I’m just paying attention. People need people. We need the connection. Covid was stealing that from us, or at least it felt like that at the time. I was still able to be the kind of listener I had always been without all the hugs and hand holds I was so used to giving. I realized these gestures weren’t just for them but also for me. I missed it. I missed hand holding and comforting embraces with my patients.
Fast forward to my complete and total obsession with the imagining the future. I would drive home by a local restaurant that had a pool everyday. I would imagine splashing with my kids there, drinking an umbrella clad cocktail and soaking up the people and the Vitamin D like nobody’s business. I imagined what it would be like to run a joint like that. To be the purveyor of all that joy, all that community, all of those belly laughs. The thought of wearing the crown of running a place like that was intoxicating, so intoxicating that I started doing a deep dive and researched what it would take to lease it. I wrote a 40 page business plan and dissected every aspect of life as a restauranteur. I imagined my life, my kids, my absolute success and happiness.

The original place with the pool fell through. We pounded the pavement in search of our new home, our real home. We found the perfect place in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz. Cruz Kitchen & Taps was born.We could be a hub for locals and tourists alike. The space is just shy of 3200sq ft and boasts a beautiful dining room with windows from floor to ceiling. The vibe is right. We sanded, scraped, and painted ourselves into the place. We kept the esthetic a gray scale and have local artists featured on the tables and walls to give it the pop of color and swagger. The purpose is to uplift our local community. We serve up delicious food from a local dude and have local art in and out.
I have the absolute pleasure of stepping back and looking at it. I smell the food leave the kitchen, I can hear the laughter from the patrons, and taste the local beer on tap. I did this, WE did this. We have created something amazing. I am so honored and delighted to be a part of this business. I know in my heart of hearts that this is where I am meant to be, where I can make the most positive ripple in my community.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love a good stay-cation in Santa Cruz. We would first visit one of my favorite places for breakfast, which is the de la Vega golf course. After around of delicious scrambles and eggs, Benedict and of course, some bloody Mary’s we would head to the driving range. After then, we would head down to the beach to hang out, preferably some of the local spots, like sunny Cove or Santa Maria or Mitchell’s Cove. After soaking in some sun, we would head to El Palomar restaurant downtown.
Staying at the Dream Inn is a must where we could hang poolside and have cocktails. We would definitely have to go to roaring camp in Felton. We could take the train from the redwoods back to the beach then grab a PediCab to Cruz Kitchen & Taps for an early dinner so that we could go and play some pool at surf city billiards. There’s always good music playing at the catalyst, Moe’s Alley, or the Crepe Place. I love also going to Harbor Café for breakfast. They serve delicious, polenta fries, squeezed greyhounds.
If you go up north to Costanoa you can experience glamping. Favorite sushi places would have to include Akira and Mobo. Don’t forget to include to spend a good day or two at the Chaminade for massages playing in the pool and a nice glass of wine while looking all the way to the ocean from up on a hill.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have been able to be a mom, a nurse and a business owner because of all the support I get from all my colleagues and family. There is no way I could accomplish all the insane amount of things I need to get done without the help of my people on the Homefront, Central Coast Oncology & Hematology and Cruz Kitchen & Taps with a special shout out to my business partner Chef Dameon DeWorken.

Website: https://www.cruzkitchenandtaps.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cruzkitchenandtaps?igsh=a3d3bXowZjg3N2Rz&utm_source=qr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mia-thorn-2526881a6?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077857686627&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Yelp: https://yelp.to/CShXDFMyW6

Other: https://vimeo.com/925220359

Image Credits
N/A

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