The Loveland and Fort Collins Breakfast Club restaurants are back together under family ownership. Dakota and Michelle Soifer bought the Loveland Breakfast Club from Angela Hertrich in October of 2022, and they bought the Fort Collins Breakfast Club from David Hakes in April. Together, they have decades of restaurant experience and also own Café Aion in Boulder, where they live with their three kids: Zaya (16), Leon (4) and Odessa (2).
In 1990, Hakes founded The Breakfast Club at 121 Monroe Drive in Fort Collins, and it quickly became a place for folks to find a great meal that is fairly priced and made well. Over the next 30 years, The Breakfast Club expanded and grew into a bustling town staple. Today, you’ll find regulars who have been coming devoutly, some for more than 20 years, for omelets, pork green chili, crispy hash browns or Dave’s famous lunch specials, like homemade beef stroganoff. 
In 2000, Hakes and his then wife, Angela, opened The Loveland Breakfast Club at 1451 Boise Ave. With a nearly identical menu and decor and friendly service, the Loveland location quickly became a hit with the locals.
Unfortunately, their marriage didn’t last, and the ownership of the two Breakfast Clubs was split—until now.
The Soifers are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring the two locations back under one family ownership and feel lucky to have such amazing teams in place at both restaurants. Many staff members have been employed for one or two decades; that kind of experience is a special thing in the restaurant industry. The staff knows how to take care of guests, and they keep operations running smooth. As owners, the Soifers feel very fortunate.
About the Soifers
As the chef and owner of Cafe Aion in Boulder, Dakota drew upon years of experience working in nationally acclaimed restaurants such as Zuni Café, Julia’s Kitchen and The Kitchen Café—plus a summer with Meadow Lark Farm Dinners. Dakota’s menus and cuisine reflect a philosophy of crafting the best quality food into simple, soulful bites. Café Aion received local and national recognition in Bon Appétit, Esquire, 5280, the Denver Post and more. Dakota also won the popular cooking show, “Cutthroat Kitchen,” in season four.
Michelle has worked as a server in various restaurants for 18 years. She has a fine arts degree in illustration, but she loves to work with her hands in every creative way possible. She is currently at home raising the kids, but she plans to integrate herself back into both locations once the little ones are both in school. She enjoys exploring the outdoors, meeting new people, traveling, working with power tools and doing yoga.
