This is the story of Fely’s Cafe—
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
–Maya Angelou
Fely makes food.
But that’s not really what she does.
Fely makes you feel good.
She remembers people. She remembers your name…and also the names of your family members. And she asks about them warmly, even if she hasn’t seen you in years. It is her gift and her blessing. It makes you feel seen, heard, remembered. Important.
Plus she makes eye contact and says, “hello honey” as you walk in the door, which has always reminded me of how my great grandmother, Concha, would welcome me into her kitchen–with genuine love. I know this experience is so universal with Fely that no matter how much time goes by, she will always be remembered as the lady who makes you feel good (also as the lady who feeds you like you’re family, because she serves up big ‘ol portions)!
Fely’s Cafe is a testament to the notion that you can build a successful business by building relationships. It goes further than that, really–you can build a great life by building relationships, but it works perfectly well as a business philosophy. That’s why Fely’s Cafe is an iconic piece of the Brookings/Harbor landscape and history. Many restaurants have come and gone since the 90’s, but Fely’s remains.
A Longstanding History of Service
Fely moved to Brookings with her husband in 1988. They owned a construction business up in Alaska and they were moving to Mexico. Along the long stretch of Highway 101, they stopped off in Brookings…and never left. That’s a common story around these parts. Brookings has a way of reeling you in and not letting go.
Fely’s Cafe has been in business since 1991, and will likely continue until whenever Fely decides she’s done. She got her start down at Sporthaven Beach where her kitchen & cafe sat alongside the laundromat for years in an old weather-worn building.
Over the years she’s been serving up classic diner options. For breakfast: foods like pancakes, omeletes, sausage, bacon, ham, hashbrowns, and biscuits & gravy; and lunch options including: burgers, hot dogs, fries and chili. Simple staples, large portions.
She most definitely serves the biggest burgers in town! The buns can’t contain them. They’re no match.
Unexpected Move
Back in 2014, The Port of Brookings Harbor decided that Fely’s and the Laundromat were outdated buildings and they needed to be torn down and removed. News that shocked many people.
There was a public outcry for Fely’s Cafe! Through the support of our wonderful community, Fely and her cafe were relocated from the port location to Shopping Center Avenue, right next to the laundromat (apparently Fely’s and laundromats go hand in hand). Nobody wanted to see her go. So she stayed.
Maybe someday she’ll make it all the way to Mexico. Until then, we’ll all gladly keep enjoying the feels and the food down at Fely’s Cafe.
Fely’s Blog Part II — Hear it From The Locals
With a place as long-standing as Fely’s, everyone has a story to share. I wanted to hear from locals and visitors alike about their Fely’s Cafe experiences.
So I sent out a message in a bottle over the high seas of facebook. Here’s how it read:
“Please take a moment to share:
1) A fun story or factoid about Fely and/or her cafe (especially if it’s about the old Sporthaven Beach location).
2) Your favorite Fely’s Cafe food item.
3) If you’re a regular, what keeps you coming back for more?”
From Fely’s Customers:
Debbie Valentine
My favorite thing about Fely’s is Fely herself!!!!!!
Dave Hodge
Fely is amazing–she would have a couple walk in that had been there once ten years ago and she would tell them where they lived and what they ordered to their amazement and she was correct! She has never met a stranger and always gives more than takes! Also her food is amazing!
Lisa Wilder
Fely’s great patty melts! Fely’s great heart and spirit!!! I can hear her now, “hello honey!”
McKenna Wiley
So many good memories at Felys. I remember going with my grandparents as a very small child and us sharing one of her huge cheeseburgers. No matter how much time has passed, she always remembers my name and remembers who I am. My grandparents have both now passed, but some of my fondest memories with them take place at Fely’s Sporthaven location, watching her solar toys dance and watching the waves.
Barbara Tedson
I love her burgers!
Jilly A Hall
She would still open even if the driftwood washed up to her door.
The quarter pounder burger with caramelized onions, of course.
She ALWAYS remembers my son and asks about him ever since he was little and would go in there for a corn dog. He is 20 now!
Charlee Capps
Amazing ladies! I get biscuits n gravy every Sunday!
And Some More…
Shealynne Ivana Smith
My fiance took me there for our first date. The 3 older women working made me the most amazing and HUGE cheese burger! They told me a story about their first loves and it was too cute, they are all so kind! Their food is amazing and I adore their art work in the Café. Beautiful lighthouses!
Bethiah Rebecca Johnson
So cool. And funny, she’s always sweeping isn’t she?? (I’ve known her very closely since I was 6!!)
Funny story, her name is pronounced “Fay lee.”
Theresa Nicole
We go there whenever we visit from Grants Pass. Absolutely love her “like family” servings and amazing omelets. She is such a sweet lady.
And More…
Penny Goolbsy
She loves to feed her “people” and it shows!! And we all love supporting her, yes???
Berma Matteson
A favorite memory is sitting at one of the picnic tables outside (the beach) Fely’s and a whale came in close to the beach. We were eating one of Fely’s famous burgers. I loved going there for breakfast and coffee, sitting at the bar looking out at the ocean.
Jeremy Cabrera
LOVE, LOVE Fely’s!!!! Patty Melt!!! Hmmmm!!!
Patricia Brown
Had a delicious Polish Dog there last week. Got to visit with Fely. She always asks about my grown up grandsons. Fely has known us since they were little boys. She is like family!
TomnRuthie Moody
Fely aims to please!!! She’s like family! I love her BLT’s!
And More…
Opal White
She welcomes us everytime we come in. She knows us so well she already has our order written down…My husband told her that her scales are broken when she makes us our 1/4 lb bacon cheese burgers lol….they are so big we share one.
My fondest memory of Fely’s at Sports Haven was all her solar animated figures dancing in the windows…
My favorite meal is Fely’s Bacon Cheeseburgers…but anything she makes is delicious…but most of all is her LOVE and herself will always keep us coming back…
Jaide McCleary
Fely is amazing!! Everytime we go in she is sure to say hello to our kids and make sure we’re all doing well. I love the biscuits and gravy!
I took my sister there and my kids and grandchildren; she asks every time we go in how they are…plus they also always stop when they come thru town….Fely’s is our #1 place to go whenever we need a good burger fix.
Mariah Stumpenhaus
Fely is a beautiful person inside and out. She has a memory that will put anyone elses to shame. She remembers everyone in my family. Our entire family has been visiting Fely since I was a little girl. My Grandpa used to vacation (before he passed) every summer at the Port and we would always go to Felys. Now I’m married and my husband and I take our daughter regularly.
Anything on the menu–you cannot go wrong–Breakfast (I’m a sucker for the omelets), and for Lunch you can’t help but get the giant cheeseburger.
Fely is loved by so many in this community.
Fely’s Blog Part III — My Story
After college I kept living in the Portland area for several years. When I finally decided to come back home to Brookings I was 27 years old. I didn’t have a plan and I was just bumming around Brookings so most days I was up for whatever adventure came my way.
One day I ran into my friend Jerry Woods around lunchtime. He was hungry. I had a car. I’d fly, he’d buy, we decided. I asked him to pick the spot. He asked if I’d ever had one of Fely’s massive burgers. I said no. He said to shut my mouth, we were going to Fely’s to split one of those beasts!
Jerry was the perfect friend to have when you’re up for adventure, because he was always floating about randomly, spreading goodness. Just free. And he didn’t require anything of you. Not even words.
We walked in all smiles and chatted with Fely, alongside the whole gang of her smiling, dancing, solar toys going ham sandwich all day as always, while she cooked us up the biggest burger in Brookings with a huge pile of fries! Once served, we headed out to the old grayed picnic tables and split that big ol’ burger and fries and both got good and full right there in the sunshine. I’ll always remember that day, just like I’ll always remember Jerry Woods.
Jerry’s no longer with us, but he and Fely were two of a kind. They had the same ability: a way of seeing and experiencing others that leaves them feeling good. I’ll always love Fely’s Cafe because every time I go there, I remember my friend as I’m being warmly welcomed back to someplace familiar and fond.
–Gabriel Chatman–
Owner/Operator
Hurry In Curry Deliveries