Kravings Kafe, a black and Haitian-owned café in Brooklyn, opened in September 2023, offering fresh, preservative-free treats. Founders Elveda Dorce and Zayveon Kimble aim to create a unique 2D café experience. Despite facing challenges like a decline in foot traffic and financial strain, they are committed to their community and the café’s future, offering a 10% discount for article mentions to encourage support.
Kravings Kafe, a distinctive black and Haitian-owned café located in Mill Basin, Brooklyn, has been serving fresh, preservative-free treats since September 2023. Founded by Elveda Dorce and her husband, Zayveon Kimble, the café symbolizes their family legacy while aiming to provide a unique culinary experience. The name ‘Kravings Kafe’ features two K’s representing their sons, Kai and Kam, and they plan to include a K for their daughter, Kapri, as well.
The couple was inspired by a trip to Florida, where their children developed a fondness for ice cream. They initially considered opening an ice cream shop but shifted their vision towards rolled ice cream and the popular 2D café concepts found in Asia and Africa. Their goal is to create a Brooklyn interpretation of a 2D café that emphasizes immersive experiences and the use of high-quality, fresh ingredients.
Kravings Kafe differentiates itself from traditional ice cream shops by focusing on nutritious offerings. “Everything we use has no preservatives or additives,” Dorce stated. Their ice cream stays fresh longer due to the absence of preservatives, and they also offer acai bowls created on a rolled ice cream machine, achieving a unique sorbet-like texture.
Despite a promising start, the café encountered challenges, primarily due to a steep decline in foot traffic starting in spring 2023. Dorce shared, “One year, the park was full, and then suddenly, barely anyone was there last year.” As a result, the decline impacted all nearby businesses, including Kravings Kafe.
By late 2023, financial difficulties escalated for the couple. Co-owner Kimble lost supplementary income when his contract job ended, while Dorce needed to limit her role due to a high-risk pregnancy. “We just didn’t have the money to keep putting back into the business,” Dorce admitted, leading to a temporary closure in December.
Fortunately, after being featured on the Instagram page “Success is Us,” the café regained momentum in January, garnering attention from celebrities and food critics. This exposure revitalized the café but brought new operational challenges, as the couple struggled to manage time between their business and their young family.
Dorce also addressed the broader challenges Black entrepreneurs face, noting the lack of support from local government and business organizations. “I’ve contacted council members…but they haven’t really helped,” Dorce expressed. She highlighted a disparity where other ethnic groups often receive more resources compared to Black business owners.
Nonetheless, Dorce remains optimistic about Kravings Kafe’s future, aspiring to expand into a franchise. “We’re not just an ice cream shop. Our slogan is ‘Eat What You Krave,'” she stated, emphasizing their diverse menu. With ongoing community support, the couple is committed to building a sustainable brand that embodies quality and cultural pride, saying, “This has been a tough journey, but seeing our people uplift and support us has meant everything.
To promote community engagement, the café is offering a 10% discount for customers who mention they read this article. “We still believe in our vision; we just need our community to believe in us, too,” Dorce concluded.
Kravings Kafe is a self-sustaining venture that champions quality and cultural pride while navigating significant challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs. Despite experiencing a decline in foot traffic and financial strain, the café has experienced renewed growth following community engagement and social media exposure. The owners remain devoted to their vision of providing health-conscious offerings while continuously pursuing support and potential expansion, thus embodying resilience in the face of adversity.
Original Source: www.caribbeanlife.com
