It took Theresa Rice one meal to realize she wanted to open a crepe shop in Michigan.
After eating crepes while on vacation with her family, Rice began forming ideas for her own specialty bakery, a plan that came to a head this past December when she opened American Crepes, 986 Trowbridge Road.
Rice’s menu features both savory crepes — made with items such as ham and eggs — and sweet crepes — made with Nutella spread or peanut butter, among other ingredients.
Rice and her employees are trying to cater to customers who might not be familiar with crepes, she said.
“Everyone understands these flavors,” she said. “That’s really what we’re trying to go for.”
Prices range from $4.75 for a peanut butter and jelly crepe to $6.75 for a “taco” crepe.
After coming up with the initial business idea and examining the mid-Michigan area, Rice realized there was a shortage of crepe bakeries around East Lansing.
Ooh la la Crepes, a cafe formerly located at 1133 E. Grand River Ave., closed in December 2005.
Rice said she knows of only one other bakery that specifically sells crepes in lower Michigan, which is based in Detroit.
“We found that there was a market,” she said. “Most people that know about crepes were really, really excited (when we opened).”
Since the bakery opened Dec. 19, 2011, Rice said business has been strong, even with students gone for part of that time. And although they only sell drinks and chips in addition to crepes, Rice said customers still come into the store on a regular basis.
On its busiest days, Rice said the shop makes about 30 crepes a day.
It’s been a seven-day-a-week job running the restaurant, but Rice said the support of her boyfriend — an MSU alumnus — and her family has helped spread word about the restaurant.
The store soon will make a marketing push targeting campus, Rice said.
Environmental economics and policy junior David Baum said the new crepes shop brings diversity to East Lansing’s dining market.
“It’s just nice to get away from Grand River (Avenue),” he said.
Another East Lansing business owner who serves a breakfast and lunch crowd said the new arrival isn’t likely to impact business that much. Anthony Legalo, owner of Tony’s, 350 Albert Ave., said American Crepes is far enough away that business probably won’t be drawn away.
“I don’t anticipate any decline (in our business) at all, especially if they’re just doing crepes,” he said.
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