Kravings Kafe: A Fresh Culinary Legacy in Mill Basin, Brooklyn

Kravings Kafe is a black and Haitian-owned café in Brooklyn launched in September 2023, offering fresh, preservative-free treats. Founded by Elveda Dorce and Zayveon Kimble, the café faces challenges including financial strains and declining foot traffic. However, recent social media exposure has reignited interest, and the couple remains committed to their vision of health-conscious offerings and community engagement.

In Mill Basin, Brooklyn, a distinct black and Haitian-owned café named Kravings Kafe has been delighting patrons with fresh, preservative-free treats since its inception in September 2023. Founders Elveda Dorce and Zayveon Kimble established the café as a legacy for their children while aiming to provide a novel dining experience in Brooklyn. The café’s name reflects their family, with each ‘K’ representing their sons, Kai and Kam, and a future addition for their daughter, Kapri, in mind.

Kravings Kafe was inspired by a family trip to Florida, where the couple’s children fell in love with ice cream. Initially considering an ice cream shop, they were motivated by the innovative concept of rolled ice cream and the visually striking 2D café designs seen in Asia and Africa. Their goal was to create a unique Brooklyn-style café that prioritized immersive experiences alongside fresh, high-quality ingredients.

In contrast to traditional ice cream shops, Kravings Kafe emphasizes health-conscious options. Dorce noted, “Everything we use has no preservatives or additives.” Their ice cream, distinct from competitors, maintains its texture longer due to the freshness of its ingredients. The café also offers acai bowls made with a rolled ice cream machine, offering a superior texture compared to typical pre-blended versions.

Despite a strong start, the café faced considerable challenges, particularly with foot traffic waning mysteriously during the spring of 2023, despite initially thriving. Dorce recalled the busy period in June, filled with families and potential customers, making the decline perplexing and detrimental to business.

By late 2023, Kravings Kafe encountered severe financial pressures. Co-owner Kimble lost supplemental income from a contract job, while Dorce’s pregnancy complications prevented her from managing the café full-time. Rising expenses paired with decreasing revenue forced them to temporarily close the café in December, with Dorce stating, “It was heartbreaking, but we had to make the decision for our family.”

Fortunately, the café regained traction in January following a feature on the Instagram page “Success is Us.” This exposure attracted attention from various celebrities and notably social media food critic Keith Lee, helping to broaden the café’s reach. Although this support primarily came from the Caribbean and Haitian communities, it also led to new operational challenges due to increased demand.

With the café reopening under limited weekend hours, the couple is balancing their business with family responsibilities and staffing shortages. Dorce mentioned, “I wasn’t prepared for the level of attention we received.” The couple aims for a full operational schedule by spring 2024, as they navigate the complexities of increased attention and challenges as Black entrepreneurs.

Dorce expressed discontent regarding the lack of support from local entities, stating, “I’ve contacted council members…but they haven’t really helped.” This sentiment underscores a broader experience of inequality for Black business owners who often lack access to essential resources.

Despite these obstacles, Dorce remains hopeful, aspiring to expand Kravings Kafe into a franchise. They emphasize, “We’re not just an ice cream shop… our slogan is ‘Eat What You Krave.’” Through community support and effective growth strategies, Dorce envisions building a sustainable and culturally significant brand.

As a gesture of appreciation, Kravings Kafe is offering a 10% discount to anyone referencing the article. Dorce concluded, “We still believe in our vision. We just need our community to believe in us, too.”

Kravings Kafe, a black and Haitian-owned café in Brooklyn, symbolizes a new culinary experience marked by fresh, preservative-free offerings. Despite facing considerable challenges, including financial strains and declining foot traffic, the founders remain committed to their vision. The café has gained notable support from social media and the local community, reflecting resilience and ambition towards expansion. The journey illustrates broader issues of resource access for Black entrepreneurs, yet the owners remain hopeful for future growth and support.

Original Source: www.caribbeanlife.com