Future for local café Flying Saucers up in the air

Francesca BillingtonStaff Writer After three years of selling coffee and and celebrating alien culture, Samo community fixture Flying Saucers Café (306 Pico Blvd.) is currently struggling with financial difficulties. The neighborhood hotspot debuted three years ago on Oct. 15, 2009. It was created both as an affordable and delicious place to grab coffee or a bite to eat, and as a place where up-and-coming artists could mingle and display their work. From concerts to art galleries, Flying Saucers has become a warm and welcoming spot for young and old alike.“You can basically make this place whatever you want it to be,” Samo senior and Flying Saucer Café employee Tiana Jimenez said. “If you want to sit inside and study for hours, you can do that. If you want to come out here [on the patio] and meet new people and have nice conversations, this is the perfect place to do that.”Ryan Morris, the owner of Flying Saucers, grew up loving the fun vibe of coffee shops. Althoug he faced struggles opening and running a small business in a difficult economy, the dedication of customers has helped the café remain successful over the years.“When I first opened the place I had no idea what to expect from the Samo students,” Morris said. “But they’ve become our biggest supporters and really feel the vibe of the café.”Flying Saucers has had 32 total art openings with galleries over past three years. Flying Saucers highlighted the works of Samo students, including Gus Graef, who currently studies at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland.“We have art shows, art openings, and sometimes we have live bands play,” Jimenez said. “Aside from being a study place, anyone that is interested in art can come here and turn in their portfolio and possibly get an art opening.”Jimenez was offered a job at the café in July after visiting Flying Saucers every day. When she came to Samo during her junior year, Flying Saucers became her new home.According to Jimenez, the café has a different atmosphere than other places around town. It offers something new and refreshing that excites not only its customers, but employees as well.“There are so many places that you can go to and the people who work there just don’t care. They never ask how your [day] was and just treat you like any other customer,” Jimenez said.And according to Jimenez, the word co-worker does not quite apply to those who work at Flying Saucers. The relationships that she has built with these people have changed her perception of working with others.“Saucers overall, is not merely a workplace with ‘co-workers.’ Saucers is a family and we all really care about each other and look out for one another,” Jimenez said. “We’ve learned how to be a team rather than work individually.”The café has grown immensely popular throughout the Santa Monica community, as well as the Samo community. Flying Saucers is a reliable place where students can be come and expect a lively and welcoming environment.“We have kids who come here everyday at lunch to the point where they have open tabs,” Jimenez said. “We also have customers that come here literally every day, sit here from opening until closing just on their computers working.”However due to the expensive costs of running a local business in Santa Monica, the future of Flying Saucers is uncertain. According to Morris, despite the worries, the support from the community– Samo in particular– has immensely helped Flying Saucers.“I called for community support to save the café because it really is in the hands of the fans [that determines] the fate of the café,” Morris said. “The outpouring of love from the neighborhood and Samo has been amazing to see, and it is the continued daily patronage of the café for lunch that keeps the place afloat.”fbillington@thesamohi.com