By: Deborah Johnson Wood
To say that Barb Bush is an entrepreneur dedicated to Grand Rapids’ Alger Heights neighborhood only tells half the story — she’s also a lifelong resident of the neighborhood, having lived in five different houses throughout the area.
For 24 years, Bush owned Potpourri at 2404 Eastern Ave. SE, which specialized in preserved fresh flower arrangements. She closed the store three years ago and opened a neighborhood favorite in the same space: Sundaes In The Heights, a seasonal ice cream store.
Eighteen months ago, Bush bought the building, and last month she opened Sundaes Café in a former coffee shop space behind Sundaes In The Heights.
“We completely repainted the café and did each table in a different color and the chairs in different colors,” Bush says. “It makes it more homey. It’s bright like the ice cream store, but in softer shades.”
The café offers a unique build-your-own-sandwich menu with gourmet toppings. Also on the menu: wrap sandwiches, fresh salads, soups, and Janie’s Cookies. Next week they’ll add hand-dipped Hudsonville Ice Creams for sundaes and desserts.
“We kept the Paramount Coffee line, the same line the coffee shop used,” Bush adds, noting that a full offering of lattés, cappuccinos, and espresso is on the menu.
The grand opening is October 10 and 11. Customers can sample the menu items and enjoy a free cup of coffee.
This summer, the ice cream store had nine employees; the café added another six server jobs.
“This is a real family community,” Bush says. “You know everybody and even know what they want in their coffee when they walk in.”
Source: Barb Bush, Sundaes Cafe
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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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