Blase Cafe’s Cindy Breslin was a positive person in both business and the community
By John Morton
Blase Cafe & Martini Bar is as unique and eclectic a place as you’ll find anywhere.
Cindy Breslin was the person who brought that one-of-a-kind vibe to the Village, and then some.
“Dead she is not, but departed, for the artist never dies,” was the words of tribute from Rob Clark, her executive chef from 2019 to 2021.
Breslin, 65, who established her restaurant in 1997, passed away Aug. 23 at the Siesta Key home of Kevin Skiest, her business co-owner since 2016. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer in July of 2020.
“Her personality, and her ability to get along with people, made the place what it was,” Skiest said. “She was a big character.”
And had lots of it, too.
“She’d take in children. She’d help people get a job. She was one of the few good people left around,” Skiest said. “When it came to the community, she always was helping with somebody’s fundraising efforts. She was a huge community entity.”
Skeist said he plans to organize a celebration-of-life gathering for Breslin, “But I’m not sure my place is big enough,” he said. “She was that popular.
“My favorite description of her was ‘She sure knows how to throw a party.’”
Breslin’s daughter Olivia Cole, who describes her mother as “the matriarch of Blase Cafe,” said “She was a mother to many and a friend to all. She was known for saying ‘hey baby’ to anyone who walked through the door, giving food to anyone who was hungry, and loving everything and everyone with a strength unparalleled.
“Her love and light are infinite, and she will be missed something fierce.”
Author: John Morton
- Tags: Blase Cafe, Cindy Breslin, Kevin Skiest