StockBIZ: The Cravingz Café Takeover: Mystery Solved!

The Cravingz Café Take-over: New Menu. New Coffee. New Rules.

by Mary Jo David

Every town has buzz—especially small towns. And lately, a lot of the buzz in Stockbridge has centered on what’s happening at Cravingz.

Except for Thursday jazz nights and the occasional special event, the coffee shop, located at 140 S. Clinton, closed last November. As spring rains gave way to summer—and more rain—people heading through town could not help but notice fresh planters lining the sidewalk in front of the coffee house. Others have wandered along the side of the shop through the peaceful greenspace set with cozy tables and chairs to the back where long-time owner Judi Cook is putting her own personal touch into the gardens and rockscape.

Finally, during the weekend of Stockbridge’s A Day in the Village, people had the opportunity to stop in and ask, “What’s going on?”

The answer lies in the jaunty sign that hangs at an angle below the Cravingz sign: “A Café Takeover: New Menu. New Coffee. New Rules.” Look for the new Cravingz café to support clean, sustainable, local products and practices.

Its new Cultivate coffee—brewed bean to cup—is purchased from a local roaster out of Ypsilanti. The coffee is a process, as one diner noted when he initially questioned the price. After seeing how it was made, beginning with grinding the beans, and, more importantly, tasting the results, he was sold. The food menu is limited, with an emphasis on healthy, featuring mostly organic ingredients. Expect a short menu with only a couple breakfast offerings and a couple lunch offerings. Oh, and then there’s the mystery food called “M’Oh.” (Hint: think of a muffin shaped like a donut!)

Cravingz is doing its own twist on the “pop-up” craze people are hearing about in places like Los Angeles, New York, or even closer to home in Ann Arbor. But the Cravingz pop-up concept focuses less on “temporary” and more on being just a little unpredictable. Look for the café to be open on most weekends—likely around 8 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon—including some Fridays. But if you want to know before you show, follow Cravingz on Instagram at @cafetakeover. Look for occasional postings on Facebook at Cravingz Coffee House & Sandwich Shop.

Cravingz features brew-as-you-go, bean-to-cup coffee
and a limited food menu featuring healthy ingredients.

To anyone who looks a little quizzically at the new Cravingz concept, Judi says, “Customers who come in with an open mind for something different will go away with a good experience.”

Less “pop-up” and more predictable are the Thursday night Jazz and easy-listening events that have become a mainstay at Cravingz for more than two years. Many Stockbridge residents are familiar with the music emanating from the Cravingz outdoor patio—when weather permits—or indoors when it doesn’t. Most Thursday-evening events run from 6:00–8:00 p.m., although it’s always best to check the sign posted on the door of the café to be certain.

Thursday evening patrons can choose from the more traditional Cravingz “sandwich and a special” menu, not to mention beer, wine, cocktails, great music, and excellent company.