Delta of Venus provides a space for art exhibitions, live music and social gatherings

The café’s owner shares sentiments about love and fostering community

By RACHEL GAUER — features@theaggie.org

A typical college town café does not often include live music shows, funky wall colors and extensive art exhibitions. Downtown’s Delta of Venus, however, is far from typical.

Situated just a short distance from campus at the intersection of Rice Lane and B Street, Delta of Venus appears to be a quaint, homey cafe with an abundance of outdoor seating for conversing with others or perhaps working in solitude.

A step inside the space, however, reveals its uniqueness: brightly multi-colored walls are lined with various art installations from local artists, bringing an immediate feeling of being in someone’s carefully curated living room. It’s this very sentiment that owner Lee Walthall finds customers saying over and over.

“I think a lot of people who say that this feels like home to them is not because their home has differently colored walls or because it has bamboo growing in the front — it’s more about a feeling,” Walthall said. “We sell food and coffee here, but what I am mostly interested in is people: how people feel and how people engage with each other.”

Walthall, a Davis native, has owned Delta of Venus since 2001. He aimed to utilize the space to support the arts in Davis, a community he has been a part of since his youth.

“I grew up in the arts community and was really fortunate to be able to play music for a living,” Walthall said. “It was very much supported by the Davis community — both by the people who live here and the city itself; Everyone was very embracing of me and my career. I wanted to do something as I got older that would allow me to provide the same support for the community that I received when I was younger.”

In addition to installations by local artists, Delta of Venus hosts a variety of music events in the evenings, ranging from live music to DJ sets, as well as other arts and cultural-based events such as Paint and Sips and art receptions. A recent event, hosted at the cafe on Nov. 1, was “Bomba en Delta,” featuring local band Bomba Fried Rice and DJ Novela.

Despite the array of activities that are hosted in the space, the food and coffee itself is not something to be overlooked. The café boasts an extensive breakfast menu featuring a variety of scrambles and breakfast burritos, as well as both brewed coffee and espresso. Frequenters of the business believe that the prices are reasonable compared to other local options.

Katherine Krinsky, a fourth-year English major and a regular at Delta of Venus, highlighted how the pricing aligns with the café’s welcoming atmosphere.

“I think it’s probably one of the most community-centered spaces that exist in Davis that’s open to the public,” Krinsky said. “It’s really decently priced, which reflects that they are not trying to rake in money; they just have a space where people can meet and eat and do whatever they need to do.”

Beyond affordability, community is also fostered by the interactions between staff members and patrons. Walthall emphasized the importance of interacting with each customer on a more personal level.

“We’re just trying to create something here that feels friendly and opening and that appreciates people for who they are,” Walthall said. “All of the staff here, we try to engage with the public on that level and let people know that we see them and that we care about them.”

The sentiment seems to be received well among customers; just spend a few minutes in the café on any weekday, and you will notice staff greeting patrons by name, asking if they will have “the regular” that morning.

Jackie Allen, a fourth-year linguistics major, also highlighted the friendliness of the staff as one of the things that brings her continuously back to the café.

“I go there for the company,” Allen said. “The baristas are so nice, and no stranger has ever made me feel so included in a space than Lee, the owner. He asks personal questions and cares about you as a human.”

When asked about his favorite part of owning the café, Walthall did not select live music or even the ability to open doors for young artists. Instead, he highlighted something rather unexpected — love.

“People fall in love here,” Walthall said. “It’s a common date place, and it’s a common place to go for music or art which are kind of inherently romantic situations. A lot of times young couples come in with their babies to show them where Mommy and Daddy met for the first time. I don’t get tired of seeing and hearing that.”

Walthall said his experience witnessing these love stories extends beyond just being a perk of working with people.

“You become part of somebody’s life in a way that is deeper than a meal or a show,” Walthall said. “We love serving meals here and we love throwing shows here, but when you start to become part of somebody’s real, ongoing life, [their] future and their family, it’s a very deep thing and a wonderful experience […] To be involved with love is really the most amazing thing that I’ve experienced in life.”

Written by: Rachel Gauer — features@theaggie.org