When owners Mike and Azar Tabatabai opened the restaurant at the end of January, the couple made a commitment to give back to their community.

"It is part of our business strategy to do things like this on a regular basis as a gesture to show we care," Mike says. "For us, success is measured by how well we integrate into the community and become partners with the people who live here."

In fact, the couple recently decided to redirect their modest marketing budget from advertising toward donations to schools, charities and other nonprofit agencies. They say they prefer knowing their funds are going to an organization that will use them to purchase needed items or further their mission.

Their initial philanthropic effort began on March 18 when they sponsored a fundraising day for the American Cancer Society. Ten percent of the sales at both their restaurants--the couple has another Camille's on Blossom Hill Road--was donated to the organization.

The couple says they initially chose to support the American Cancer Society because every family is touched by cancer in one way or another. In addition to money, they donate food for the organization's meetings.

Before opening their restaurants, the Tabatabais both worked in the high tech industry.

For Mike, making the switch from a career in high tech to the restaurant business was an easy decision.

"I worked in high tech for 20 years," he says, "but I am a lover of food and wanted to get into the food business."

Although the product is different, Mike says his previous experience has blended well with his new responsibilities.

"I apply the management philosophies I learned in high tech to this business," he says.

Part of that philosophy involves hiring people with a solid work ethic. "When you have a core group of people with high integrity who support the core values of an organization, the customer becomes the centerpiece of everything they do," he says.

"When people come in, they are guests in our restaurant and it is part of our culture to make sure our guest are comfortable and well fed," he says. "We do this by serving good, healthy food in a very clean, relaxing atmosphere."

Mike and Azar have been pleased with the success of their newest restaurant in Campbell.

"We have a solid base of customers from the surrounding businesses and many good catering accounts," Azar says.

"We are seeing a slow steady growth of our customer base," Mike adds. "We are growing our business one person at a time."

Camille's, which is a franchise operation based out of Tulsa, Okla., serves hot and cold wraps, traditional and grilled panini sandwiches, fresh salads, smoothies, gourmet coffee and a wide variety of baked goods.

Camille's is in the Hamilton Plaza, 1700 S. Bascom Ave., next to Longs Drugs. For more information call 408.559.0310.