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At the new grab-n-go cafe Lunch Counter, barista Garrett LeRoy says business has been steady since customers opened the doors.
“Opening day we had almost 100 people come through,” he said.
Owner Tori Parker echoed a similar sentiment, saying the cafe had sold out several times since opening.
“We’ve had a consistent flow of foot traffic and have been pumping sandwiches and grain bowls out the door with coffees, croissants and little carrot cakes so it’s been really great,” Parker said.
The cafe prides itself on producing minimal waste, including nixing nearly all single-use packaging. (Dante Filpula Ankney / KHOL)
Parker now owns the cafe and catering service — which both hold a similar mission — to provide the community with healthy local food while making a better impact on the environment.
She says the cafe is nearly waste-free, using reusable metal boxes and glass jars as to-go containers and reducing transport emissions by buying produce locally.
“So we source about 90% of or our ingredients from local ranchers and farmers and producers,” she said.
Although the cafe itself is open near the Center for the Arts, Parker is planning a grand opening celebration for the cafe with two other neighboring businesses soon.
