On a warm Sunday afternoon, groups of friends, families and their dogs gather around picnic tables on a large sunny deck surrounded by the redwoods, sipping coffee and enjoying steaming plates of coconut curry and shakshuka, a classic Israeli dish. A light breeze rustles the trees and beats against the bright yellow umbrellas, adding to the symphony of chatter, upbeat Israeli music and the clatter of skateboards in the distance.
This is Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen, located at Monte Rio’s Creekside Park beside the community garden and the skate park. The idea for the café was sparked out of opportunity and passion. In 2018, the husband-wife team and recent Sonoma County transplants, Ori and Gal, were working at a chicken farm in Valley Ford. Ori also worked a few days a week at the café, which used to be a vegan spot. The business was slow and the previous owner offered to sell the space to his employees. Ori was hesitant, but Gal encouraged him to take a leap of faith. “We figured it’s what we like to do,” says Gal. “We like to host and feed and be with people and create communities.” At the end of that year, the couple took over the café, naming it Lightwave, an ode to their Hebrew names. Ori’s name means “my light” and Gal’s name means “wave.”
The name reflects the idea of creating something together and making it their own. This can be seen in every aspect of the space. The inside is just big enough to walk in and place an order, but every inch is decorated with old photos, knick-knacks and an impressive collection of antique radios. “The thought is like coming to your family, like your grandma’s house or your mother’s house… It’s cozy and relaxed. Our food is also trying to be like that, too. [It’s] fresh, healing and healthy-ish,” Ori says.
Ori lights up, no pun intended, when sharing about their recent pickle launch, which has its own brand name. “It’s called Zois and Zissel, which means sweet and salty in Yiddish,” he explains. The name draws inspiration from Ori’s Eastern European roots. “Zissel” is also used as a pet name, similar to calling a child “sweetie.” When asked if that’s something his grandma would say, he laughs. “My grandma would definitely say that. Not Gal’s grandma, but [mine] would.” Ori is Ashkenazi Jew, while Gal is a Sephardic Jew.
Besides their pickle brand, Ori and Gal are excited to continue to do what they love. “Our favorite part is meeting people and having fun,” Ori says. “Every day is like a party here.” Many friendships have come out of this experience, but the couple’s favorite memory is the story of John and Poodie. Shortly after opening, someone brought a stray dog to the café and asked if they knew of anyone who might want it. Ori remembered another guest who was sad because he’d lost his pet. He says “I made the connection and still to this day, he has the little poodle. John and Poodie come every day… Like a big love story.”
Ori and Gal joke that they wish they could say there were more love stories to come out of Lightwave, and maybe there are. However, one thing is certain. It is the sense of community and Ori and Gal’s warm and intentional service that keep people coming back. “A lot of people didn’t have this place where they could come and have a cup of coffee and meet other people,” says Gal. “We have some people who come every day, but they also meet each other and they create their own groups of friends, which is so cool to know that we gave them the spot to start it.”
