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Draper Journal

Business Spotlight: Penny Ann's Cafe

May 15, 2015 02:50PM ● By City Journals Staff
Any visitor stepping into Penny Ann’s Café for the first time will know immediately that it is the right place to come for a cozy, comfortable breakfast,  and that’s just the way the owners like it. 

Penny Ann’s is a family affair. The restaurant’s namesake, Penny Ann, and her sister, Cindy, can often be found seating patrons, serving tables or chatting pleasantly with the restaurant’s regular customers. A peek into the kitchen will show Penny’s two brothers, Warren and Paul, manning the stoves. Wayne and Jane, the parents of the bunch, can often be seen around, as well as 2 of Penny’s nieces helping in the kitchen and on the floor. 

“Having a family atmosphere is very important to us,” said Paul Willey, one of Penny’s brothers, and chef at Penny Ann’s. “We want people to be comfortable, and we pride ourselves the home-y feel.”

Not only is the atmosphere comfortable and inviting, the food is top notch.  For the second year in a row, Penny Ann’s Café was the winner of the Best of State award for Best Breakfast in 2014. They are known as the “Home of the Heavenly Pancakes”, and the pancakes are a fantastic place to start when trying to decide on something from the menu. Head chef Warren Willey has been a chef for many years, and his experience translates into his down-home cooking. Originally from New York, Warren was a chef there before coming to Utah. After the move, he was a chef at Park City’s Westgate Grill for 10 years before the family decided to open Penny Ann’s.  

In June of 2011, Penny Ann’s opened its doors in downtown Salt Lake City, and had almost instant popularity. After three years in the downtown site, the family decided to open another location. They opened in Draper in December of last year, and couldn’t be happier that they did. 

“This [Draper] location has been more than we could have ever asked for,” says Paul. “We have been extremely overwhelmed and grateful and how well we have been received.”  

Even if you haven’t been by to try out Penny Ann’s, you have probably heard about it. It really is that good.  “The word of mouth is amazing. When people find us, they want to tell others about us,” explains Paul. “You can’t pay for marketing like that.”

Penny Ann’s Café is located at 280 East 12300 South in Draper. They are open from 7am-3pm Monday through Friday, serving both breakfast and lunch, and from 7am-2pm on Saturday and Sunday, serving breakfast only.  Come and find out what everyone in Draper is talking about!