While the city of Pleasanton may appear to be just a part of the sprawling Bay Area metropolis, it is, at its heart, still, very much, a small town, built on the foundation of small businesses. From its earliest roots, small businesses have provided the building blocks of Pleasanton’s sense of community and identity. Those same building blocks are still doing their job with the ongoing development of small, locally owned business, such as Macchi, a newly opened café, whose owner shares the same hopes and dreams shared by early Pleasanton businesses more than a century ago.

Macchi is a Japanese-inspired café, featuring matcha drinks, soft serves and other comfort foods. We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with the owner, Winnie, to learn about her hopes and dreams of bringing Macchi to life.

Winnie Liu is the creative force behind Macchi. As the child of immigrants, she had to forge her way through the road map of the American Dream. Over her life, she has been a photographer, violin teacher and passionate community volunteer. Whether it was helping to develop a community badminton program or coordinating multicultural events and music programs, she brought her love and passion for the Pleasanton community to life. While raising her family, Winnie kept her dream of starting a business to herself, but once her children had graduated and moved on, she realized she had the time and freedom to follow that dream. She told us, “ Once I said it, I just had to do it.”

Her vision was the creation of a space where young and old alike, could find common ground, not a big name place, but a local place, a place that blended the tea served with a connection to community. Unlike other cafes, Macchi is curated in a way that provides a sense of home and belonging. No one is rushed, the emphasis is on connecting or the freedom to have some space alone. The lighting provides a soft atmosphere, while beautiful green vines cascade down the walls and thin beige veils separate the tables, providing a sense of personal space. 

Winnie told us that opening the store was challenging, but her dream and vision encouraged her, even during the hardest days. From managing inventory to hiring the best employees, every decision was focused on creating an atmosphere that was welcoming. She wanted the store’s attention to reflect customer needs. This is why Winnie relies on customer comments. “Every comment helps us do a better job, that is our goal.” “Every comment helps the store to be better than the day before.”