Grand Avenue Cafe

About

Grand Avenue Cafe began as a pop-up in a borrowed storefront during a bitter February, when neighbors kept asking where to get a serious pour-over without driving across town. Founders Mira Chen and Jordan Hale — a pastry cook and a former librarian — decided the answer was a bright corner on Grand with enough windows for winter light and a patio for summer mornings. They source beans from Iowa and Midwest roasters, bake cinnamon rolls and savory hand pies before dawn, and keep a kids’ corner stocked with board books. The cafe hosts monthly “neighbor hours” where local makers sell small goods, and the tip jar funds classroom supplies for nearby schools. Today the cafe is a morning staple for walkers, remote workers, and anyone who needs a familiar face with their latte. Mira still writes the chalkboard specials; Jordan still remembers most regulars’ orders by heart.