Crave Nature’s Eatery To Open In Lawrenceville March 25
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Crave Nature’s Eatery, a fast-casual, quick-serve café will open on March 25 at Viva Plaza, 1891 Brunswick Ave, Lawrenceville.
The café specializes in healthy food options and is a brainchild of real estate developer and entrepreneur Wioletta Wyszynski.
Mayor John T. Ryan and others will be present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m.
The 2,000 square-foot café will feature fresh juices, smoothies, freshly roasted Bucks County Coffee Company coffee, pastries, and Polish treats. But the highlight will be a selection of healthy breakfast and lunch bowls and build-your-own salad/grain bowls with warm and cold protein bases, as well as a variety of healthy sides and toppings.
"It was always a dream of mine to own a café with delicious food and amazing ambiance — a place to gather, relax and unwind while enjoying healthy, satisfying food and excellent coffee,” Wyszynski said in a statement. “I’m definitely a people pleaser, and I’m super excited to host all of Lawrenceville and the surrounding communities to enjoy our healthy, delicious cuisine in the coming weeks,” said the 45-year-old mother of three who previously worked as a server at various Garden State establishments.
It was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic that Wyszynski decided to open Crave. “I know that it was a crazy idea as many entrepreneurs were closing their businesses and I decided to open a new one,” she said. “One thing was certain: I knew I had to follow my heart and my passion.”
Wyszynski credits Samantha Filip, co-creator and Operations Director, and the daughter of one of her best friends for helping her realize her dreams. “The pandemic has made building projects a nightmare, including ours, and the cost to get everything completed kept rising throughout the process. However, we feel there’s a real need for a place like Crave in our community,” she said.
Crave is located adjacent to Viva Ballroom Dance Fitness, which Wyszynski launched in 2008, when she purchased Viva Plaza. She owns and operates it along with The Beauty Bar Design Studio, which is also on-site.
“There’s always been a demand for a little cafe here. But there’s never been a place nearby for patrons of Viva to grab a healthy snack or smoothie, until now,” Wyszynski said.
Although Crave will feature a healthy menu, Wyszynski’s Polish lineage will also be woven into the menu. Wyszynski hails from Glubczyce, a tiny village in Southern Poland. Her family moved to the U.S. in 1990 when she was 14-years-old, first settling in Newark before making Mercer County her home.
The Chef at Crave will be Elizabeth Martini, who’s previously worked at Lambertville Station Restaurant & Inn and most recently, Wildflour Bakery and Café.
“We pride ourselves in providing options for various diets including vegetarian, meat lovers, gluten-free, and even sugar-free desserts — the choices are endless — but most importantly, everything is fresh and delicious,” Martini said.
Crave Nature’s Eatery will offer seating for 50 diners, with 10 seats at a window bar that opens out to Route 1 and an outdoor dining area under a pergola for up to 30 guests for alfresco dining.
The eatery has also established a fundraising campaign for Ukraine (Mercer’s Mission for Ukraine). Wyszynski is collecting supplies and donating a portion of her profits indefinitely to fund the needs of Ukrainian military personnel.
For more information, go to: https://www.cravenatureseatery.com/mercers-mission-for-ukraine.
Crave Nature’s Eatery will be open Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays). Weekday hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
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This article originally appeared on the Lawrenceville Patch
