Transforming a Café into a Fine Dining Destination: The Story of Ursa

When we first started roasting coffee, it was a simple way to support our son’s high school marching band. We didn’t imagine it would one day lead to owning a café, and certainly not to creating a fine dining restaurant within that same space. But looking back, the decision to launch Ursa was a natural evolution of our belief that creativity, operational excellence, and heartfelt hospitality could transform any space, no matter how humble.

Our backgrounds are not traditionally culinary. I (Steve) began my career as an environmental chemist, while both Tracie and I spent decades running large-scale manufacturing and design build companies. When we opened Mammoth Coffee Roasting Co. in the resort town of Mammoth Lakes, California, it combined a love for coffee, community, and entrepreneurial spirit.

From the beginning, we knew the café could be more. After the morning rush, the space sat virtually empty, and Tracie saw an opportunity to maximize its potential. Beyond simply…