Eden Café & Bakeshop Set to Open at FreshLAB Inside Eli Fish Brewing Company
Written by WBTA STAFF on April 20, 2018
Press Release:
An innovative restaurant incubator on Main Street is ready to officially welcome its first tenant and introduce a unique concept to Batavia’s restaurant scene.
Eden Café & Bakeshop, a restaurant featuring a 100% vegan menu, will celebrate its Grand Opening on Sunday, April 22 starting at Noon. The celebration will feature refreshments from Noon-2 p.m., followed by a ribbon cutting, after which the kitchen will be available for meal orders. There will be gifts for the first 25 guests, caricature drawings beginning at 2:30, and the chance to win a pair of Cutco knives. Eden is the first eatery to occupy one of the FreshLAB incubator kitchens inside the new Eli Fish Brewing Company, 109 Main Street.
Eden offers a unique menu of vegan dishes, including Carrot Dogs; artisan cheeses; drinks, including fresh juices and smoothies; and a variety of delicious desserts. All menu items are made using only plant-based foods, with no meat, dairy, eggs or honey.
“We’re really excited to grow something new in Batavia and to introduce some unique new flavors to the area,” said Judy Hysek, owner of Eden Café & Bakeshop. “Being part of FreshLAB is helping our dreams come true, and opening on Earth Day seemed to be a natural fit.”
The kitchen for Eden will be open six days a week from Noon-9 p.m. Eden will be closed on Tuesdays. For more information, visit Eden’s Facebook page facebook.com/BataviaEden.
The FreshLAB restaurant incubator features a total of three commercial kitchens. Eli Fish Brewing Company operates the largest kitchen, serving a menu of locally-sourced seasonal fare, including gourmet salads, sandwiches, soups, platters and bread. Eden is the first of two start-up restaurateurs chosen for the other kitchens, with the overall goal to develop and grow more dining concepts within Genesee County. The vision is to have tenants occupy the turnkey kitchens for short-term leases of approximately 18-24 months, sharing the food hall dining room during which time they can focus on unique menu offerings, sourcing local ingredients and honing their operational systems, such as ordering product and paying their bills. The second FreshLAB eatery, The Wild Rican, is expected to open in May.
“Eden is exactly the type of operation that FreshLAB was created for,” said Matthew Gray, one of the owners of Eli Fish Bewing Company. “The idea is to bring a diverse range of concepts and tastes together in one space and to help aspiring restaurateurs establish a vibrant dining climate in Batavia and Genesee County.”
The opening of Eden Café & Bakeshop marks the latest milestone in the rebirth of the former JJ Newberry building at 109 Main Street. Last month, the owners of Eli Fish Brewing Company celebrated their official grand opening as the cornerstone of the $2.8 million redevelopment, which will also feature apartments on the building’s second and third floors. Eli Fish Brewing Company is led by Batavia natives Gray, owner of Alex’s Place in Batavia, as well as Buffalo Brothers Pizza and Wing Co. in North Carolina; Jon Mager, a third-generation owner in Arctic Refrigeration in Batavia; and Matthew Boyd, a partner in both Alex’s and Buffalo Brothers Pizza and Wing Co., who oversees Buffalo Brothers’ five North Carolina locations.
Eli Fish Brewing Company features 20 taps, offering their own beers brewed in-house and selections from around New York State. Along with New York beers, the bar also pours craft cocktails and fine wines, all sourced from New York State wineries and distilleries. The brewery operation is a seven-barrel system, with all brewing to be performed on site, using locally-sourced ingredients.
The redevelopment of the Newberry building is being supported by the City of Batavia, Batavia Development Corp., Genesee County Economic Development Corporation, USDA Rural Development, National Grid and New York Main Street.
Eli Fish Brewing Company is open seven days a week. Hours of operation are Monday-Thursday from 11am-10pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am-11pm, and Sunday from Noon-9pm. For more information, visit elifishbrewing.com.
