Café Brazil is back in the hands of people who work there.
Kevin Pultz likes to brag that his wife Lindsay climbed the ladder from “hostess to CEO” at the local restaurant chain. After meeting while working at Cheddar’s, the couple joined the staff of Café Brazil near SMU Boulevard and thought the gig would only be a quick stint.
That was about 24 years ago, longer than they have been married.
“We drove up to the University Park location, and I said, ‘I promise we’re only going to be here a couple of months,’ because it was kind of an older building, it’s a little eclectic, and we’re used to working for major chains,” says Kevin, who started as an assistant manager. “Now, we own it.”
Obviously, something changed.
“The more we got into it, the more we really loved it here,” Lindsay says. “It’s kind of a different concept than what most people are used to.”
Café Brazil — which currently has locations in Deep Ellum, near SMU Boulevard, Carrollton, Richardson and Bishop Arts — serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and bottomless coffee. Some locations are open late for college students pulling all-nighters and party-goers sobering up but can also usher in families for Sunday brunch. After founder Michael Tate opened the original location in December 1991 in Lakewood, which almost burned down, Café Brazil became an iconic and reliable hangout. According to a previous Lakewood/East Dallas Advocate article: “Getting a Café Brazil is a big deal and seems to be a mark that a neighborhood has arrived.”
Café employees Beth Weidman and Ernest Belmore bought the restaurant from Tate in 1995 before investment firm Main Street Equity acquired it in 2004. While still working there, Kevin and Lindsay had made their desire to buy the cafe known. When the firm and its CEO were ready to move on (or at least go into a consulting role), the Pultzes got their wish. They bought the restaurant chain and bakery with a Small Business Administration loan, officially taking over last September.
“I’m still running operations like I’ve done for 24 years, and she’s taken over the CEO role because she’s uniquely qualified,” Kevin says. “She’s been a host, a server, assistant manager, worked in the office, done taxes, payroll.”
Visually, the couple reflects their previous roles. With her feathered haircut, big brown eyes and warm smile, Lindsay looks and acts like someone who would be good at greeting customers at the door and showing them to their table. Likewise, you can imagine Kevin, a soft-spoken and accommodating man with a friendly-looking face, stopping by to ask if you need anything or to amicably resolve any issues.
By now, Lindsay and Kevin are well used to working together. They balance out each other’s skills and are there for one another during stressful times. Some of their children also have jobs at the restaurant chain, making Café Brazil a family-owned and operated business.
Neither of the Pultzes are Dallas natives. Lindsay came to North Texas from Chicago when she was a teenager and has since lived in multiple Metroplex cities. Kevin grew up in South Texas and then migrated to New Orleans and Baton Rouge before moving back to Texas. Lindsay had never heard of Café Brazil until she started working there.
“I grew up in Duncanville and never really spent much time in Dallas,” she says. “But now, even living in McKinney, we always love to hear the stories when we’re like, ‘We work at Café Brazil,’ and they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, I remember …’” before recalling their memories.
Being a late night spot is part of Café Brazil’s legacy. The Pultzes take pride that their stores that are open 24/7 serve as places for people to sober up before heading home. They also have a special interest in trying to help those recovering from drug addiction through employment after they lost a son to fentanyl.
“That also has kind of opened us to helping out those coming out of halfway houses or recovering from drug addiction and giving them a chance,” Lindsay says. “We have some now that we’ve given a chance, and they’re doing amazing, and we love it. We’ve given some a chance, and it hasn’t worked out, and that’s OK.”
Lindsay and Kevin had made some renovations and minor menu adjustments, but they’re careful not to throw out the cafe’s whole vibe. They plan to pay off their loan and expand when the right spot is found, likely outside of Dallas proper.
“We’re definitely not in it to change up the menu and change up the concept,” Lindsay says. “We love this concept, obviously; we’ve been here so long. Our goal is to make whatever we can better without changing what Café Brazil actually is.”
