Coffee & Community with Cafe An'Clair

Sisters Ann and Claire Cho never planned to open a café. The two grew up on Mercer Island envisioning careers that fit the traditional mold, with desk jobs and eight-hour days. But when they quickly discovered the 9-to-5 lifestyle wasn’t for them, their parents’ casual mention of a coffee shop and bakery sparked an unexpected dream. Though both women were already incredible bakers, they found balance through their individual strengths. Claire is an artisanal coffee connoisseur always dreaming up new ways to perfect the craft, while Ann finds her happiness in the kitchen. Through this complementary pairing, Café An’Clair was born.

Café An'Clair opened its first location in South Lake Union in 2018, combining the women’s names to create a space that is uniquely their own. Their third and newest location in Downtown Bellevue opened in September of 2024, and they have already established a loyal fanbase. When you step into their Downtown Bellevue shop located in Skyline Tower, you’re immediately struck by the floor to ceiling windows that brighten up the room. The interior is immaculately curated with light wood complemented by the changing colors right outside.

“We’ve always been familiar with the Bellevue area. When we spoke to Kilroy [Realty] and came to look at the space, we knew the moment we walked it that it was our vibe,” says Ann.

The sisters find the combination of residential and office space in Downtown Bellevue highly conducive to their business’ success. Every day, their customers vary between office workers and residents who enjoy taking time out of their day to walk over from neighboring apartments. Ann and Claire say the biggest joy of the café is making connections with these customers. They recognize that small gestures as simple as remembering someone’s regular order can brighten up their day.

“People don’t just come in to grab their coffee, but to have a positive experience and interaction. It’s their break from a busy workday and they want to build connection in those moments – it’s our job to provide that.”

Despite some challenges akin to starting a small business, they are thankful for the continous positivity and support received throughout their journey. Ann and Claire dedicated over 80 hours per week to get things up and running smoothly during their first few months of opening. COVID hit soon after, but their devoted patrons helped them stay afloat by buying gift cards and spreading the word. They state that opening a café is not as glamorous as it may appear.

“It’s a lot of labor-intensive work and you’ve really got to put in the hours. We don’t really get to take vacations. It’s very hands-on and complex, so it can’t just be a side hustle. You have to be truly dedicated.”

With over six years of café-ownership under their belts now, they're imagining future locations and more possibilities. Their most recent in-store offering, a pop-up market, was inspired by their Korean heritage and brought the community together to celebrate different cultures in Downtown Bellevue.

“We wanted to honor the recent rise in mainstream popularity of all things Korean – pop music, TV dramas, beauty products, and more – to teach Bellevue residents more about it,” Claire explains. “We incorporated Korean flavors into our baked goods and had so many amazing people come out to support.”

Both women look forward to hosting more special events in the future and envision themselves continuing to expand into innovative new spaces. Their current ambitions for the upcoming years include multiple new locations, a central commissary kitchen, and a dog-friendly café. For now, their current sites continue to thrive and are well-recognized for their iconic Spanish lattes, decadent financiers, and mouthwatering bulgogi sandwiches. Stop by and see for yourself – you won’t be disappointed.