A New Era Begins: Hobee’s Sold to Longtime Employees
The following is the letter to the community written by the Taber family which announced the sale of Hobee’s in mid-June:
“After enjoying a momentous 43 year run as the owners of Hobee’s California Restaurants, the Taber family have sold the business. Though it’s a bittersweet decision, we are heartened to leave the company in familiar, very capable hands: We proudly announce that Hobee’s new owners will be our veteran employees, the husband and wife team of Camille and Daniel Chijate (pronounced Chee-HA-tay).
Camille and Daniel have each been employed by Hobee’s for 28 years. Camille presently serves as vice president and area manager, while Daniel fills the kitchen manager post at Hobee’s Palo Alto. The Chijates have earned this opportunity with their hard work and dedication throughout the years. They care deeply for our employees and customers, and have a passion for service. There is no better choice to carry on the Hobee’s legacy.
As we pass the torch to the Chijates, we are overwhelmed by the vivid memories we have shared with all of you. When our late father, Paul Taber, founded Hobee’s at a tiny site in Mountain View in 1974, he had one primary objective: to make friends. With his sly sense of humor, Paul indeed made many friends. In the process, he also created one of Silicon Valley’s earliest and most enduring success stories.
Throughout the years, we served up the Best Darn Breakfast in Town (and much more) to over a million customers. We racked up over a hundred awards, including: Best Breakfast, Best Brunch, Best Burger, Best Restaurant for Kids, Best Clam Chowder, Community Hero Award and Business of the Year in six cities and our congressional district. We welcomed luminaries from high tech, Hollywood and DC, and made our signature blueberry coffeecake world-famous. Our devoted employees have continually made us proud; scores have stayed with the company for more than two decades!
Hobee’s has always been a family affair. With Paul’s vision in place, the rest of us – matriarch Mary Taber, son Peter, daughter Connie and Peter’s husband, Ed – found unique ways to contribute to the business. Mary cheerfully processed the company payroll until age 82, then enjoyed over a decade of retirement in Honolulu before her passing in 2014. Connie focused on customer service and developed a fun, interactive training program that has been used by thousands of appreciative employees. Peter served as Hobee’s chief architect for expansion and used his superb cooking skills to develop many of Hobee’s most iconic recipes (yes, coffeecake included!). Ed, an attorney, assumed the CEO mantel from Peter and skillfully navigated the company through the economic ups and downs of the new millennium.
Now, the next era will begin, and while the Taber name will no longer be attached to the business, we nevertheless feel that we have kept Hobee’s in the family.
What a joy and privilege these 43 years have been! We will be forever grateful for your kindness, support and friendship.
With love and aloha,
PETER, ED & CONNIE”
