Boondocker’s Cafe, Marysville

What: A family-owned cafe, specializing in family dining fare, that relocated from Lake Stevens to Marysville. It opened in the new location last week.

Where: 1008 Cedar Ave., Marysville.

Co-owners: Shabbir and Ruqqy Bala of Snohomish.

Employees: About 30.

Previous restaurant: From 1994 to November 2005, the Balas operated the restaurant in Lake Stevens, where it carried the reputation of having the town’s best hamburgers. They were forced to close when they lost their lease.

New place: Located in the old Cedar Avenue Bakery building, the new Boondocker’s is about three times larger than the old place. Though the decor of blue walls and nice lighting is similar, there also is a banquet space. The menu, with wide breakfast and lunch options, now has upscale dinner entrees in addition to the well-known sandwiches and burgers.

Notable: Shabbir Bala, 55, has been working with restaurants since he was a teenager in Pakistan, where his father was in the business. His longtime experience includes a decade of working and managing at Denny’s restaurants in Anaheim, Calif., and Ballard. The Anaheim Denny’s, located near Disneyland, was reputed to be one of the busiest in the nation, Bala said.

Why he likes running restaurants: “The challenge – it’s always something new and exciting.”

Biggest challenge in the past year: “Finding the right location” to continue the restaurant, Shabbir Bala said. He looked in several places countywide before settling on Marysville.

Biggest challenge in the next year: “Right now, it’s getting our act together. Our name is out there, and people know us. We just have to get our new employees to click as a team.”

Last word: The Balas are pleading for patience from their fans, as they had a full dining room many times during the first week in the newly opened place. They said they’re happy that people have found the new location through word of mouth.

Contact: 360-653-7545 or www.boondockerscafe.com.