Former laundromat gets new life as Avenues tea and coffee house
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Gramercy in the Avenues. Photo: Kim Bojórquez/Axios
Gramercy, an ivy-covered tea house that was once a laundromat, opened this week in Salt Lake City's Avenues neighborhood.
The vibe: The cafe sits inside a 1907 industrial building, warmed by exposed brick, multi-pane windows and paper lanterns. It also includes an outdoor patio.
State of play: Best friends Emerson Alvarez and McKenna Brown, opened it after launching the Gramercy brand as a pop-up art market, which was intended to bring creative minds together.
- A monthlong Kickstarter campaign that started in May raised over $24,000 to cover the first few months of wages and buildout costs.
- It's the first time Alvarez and Brown, who are each under 30, have opened a food business.
What I tried: Gramercy's earthy matcha latte took me back to my trip to Tokyo last year.
- I paired it with their hearty Spam onigiri. The onigiri are made by Mr. Rice Asian Bistro at the Chinatown Supermarket.
What's next: Brown tells Axios she envisions the business opening late on Fridays and Saturdays in the future to offer locals a late-night spot to gather.
Hours: It's open from 8am-2pm, except Tuesdays.