The owners of the Firefly Cafe in Boyertown plan to open an all-vegan grocery store in September.
Loriann Wade and her husband, Michael Martinez, are preparing the empty storefront next to their café at 12 N. Reading Ave.
The FireFly Outpost will feature only vegan food and household items, which are not made with animal products.
“There are not many stores like this in the country,” Wade said, adding it may be the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania.
The 800-square-foot store will feature retail items in the front, such as artisan cheeses, meat substitutes, frozen and refrigerated food and household items, such as soap and cleaning items. Gluten-free and soy-free food also will be available.
“We liken it to a vegan general store,” Wade said, but its products could appeal to anyone.
She said Firefly Café has a loyal customer base and a large part of that is not vegan or vegetarian.
The back of the store will have a large kitchen the owners will use to prepare foods for their café next door. It also will be used for cooking classes and to rent to cooks who need space to make small-batch artisanal foods.
The Firefly Café has been doing well since it opened in April 2016, although it’s been through ups and downs, Wade said.
“We work hard for it,” she said.
