In Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, Billie’s Grocery opened on June 1, 2020. Working inside a Nineteen Twenties constructing that when housed native cosmetics and fragrance firm, Luzier’s, Inc., the restaurant, bakery, and retail house lastly opened after a number of delays, together with the beginning of the pandemic and the prolonged technique of the constructing reaching the Nationwide Historic Register, in 2018.
Consistent with the constructing’s historic roots, Krause and her staff restored authentic home windows and brickwork, whereas duplicating and changing exterior vintage tiles. White paint, large inexperienced vegetation, and handcrafted wood-topped tables full the brilliant, clear, ethereal inside of this 4,600-square-foot restaurant.
“I needed the individuals, bakery circumstances, and meals to be the pop of shade,” Krause stated. “We work on consuming the rainbow, so I needed every little thing to be lovely.” The house accommodates roughly 70 in-house diners, who give rave critiques to the big selection of gluten-free choices and contemporary flavors.
Consuming the rainbow may be very a lot on the coronary heart of Krause’s imaginative and prescient for meals supplied at Billie’s Grocery. Nevertheless it wasn’t all the time a giant a part of her restaurant mannequin. Krause beforehand based and ran Soho Bakery and 4 Filling Station Espresso areas.
As she labored to the purpose of exhaustion and her father, Invoice (namesake for Billie’s Grocery), died following a coronary heart assault, Krause placed on the brakes and bought her present companies. Then she discovered about thoughts/physique connections whereas finding out yoga, herbalism, diet, and extra, and therapeutic from her personal well being challenges. Krause turned a dietary therapist, well being coach, and proprietor of the brand new Unbakery & Juicery.
At Billie’s Grocery menu objects typically incorporate loads of natural, nutrient dense elements. “However we cater to all dietary and way of life wants for foodies,” she stated. “We’re very a lot a lunch-hopping place, particularly from 11-3.”
In the present day, 80-90 p.c of shoppers are restaurant patrons. Common meal tickets run round $15, together with a drink, except prospects go away with a field stuffed with baked goods-which most individuals do.
Vegan and gluten-free, multi-layer Caramel Date Bars meet gargantuan cookies, small desserts, and pastries in a large bakery case beside the counter the place prospects place their orders. “The bakery space took off shortly and we went to quick informal [service] due to staffing issues-with no servers however runners,” Krause stated. “You may nonetheless attend to individuals and get to everyone.”
Krause creates most recipes, typically taking inspiration from dishes she has sampled whereas touring nationally to internationally. “All the things is scratch-made, in-house,” she stated. “The menu has grown, and the sesame ginger watermelon salad is a favourite that has come again.”
Sesame hen salad with gluten-free fried hen, or a gluten- and dairy-free Thai bowl with rice noodles and no sugar within the sauce are different buyer favorites. Breakfast bowls embody the Submit Exercise Protein Bowl and Brekki-a tasty combo of eggs, roasted potato, herb butter, sourdough, bacon, and inexperienced onion. Cocktails, wines, and mocktails can be found on the cocktail bar and a few new wraps will quickly arrive on the menu.
“Proper now, sourcing native [ingredients] has been lots simpler – meats, produce, tortillas – however then we get just a few issues from out of state that make us distinctive, akin to elements for our uncooked desserts, or olive oil and balsamic vinegars from Italy,” Krause stated. “Culinary pleasers.”
Throughout the corridor, Billie’s Grocery additionally hosts hands-on cooking lessons, akin to an Immune-Boosting and Anti-Inflammatory Class or Vegan Hen + Waffles. Courses not too long ago relaunched, as pandemic points have eased.
Following Krause’s diet and wellness coaching, she additionally ran a separate apothecary, for some time. Apothé merchandise included adaptogenic/therapeutic herbs, plus tinctures and teas reputed to ease ache and induce rest. Nonetheless obtainable amongst retail objects at Billie’s Grocery, Krause additionally co-created a CBD-infused chocolate bar with domestically primarily based and nationally famend Christopher Elbow Chocolates.
Though Apothé didn’t turn into a sustainable enterprise, Krause held on to the house, two doorways south of the restaurant. Now, “We’re about to maneuver the bakery into the previous Apothé,” she stated. “There is perhaps a brand new on-line retailer, too.”
Within the meantime, Billie’s Grocery continues to thrive. “I feel it’s a brand new culinary expertise for everybody,” Krause stated. “It’s a wholesome different with wholesome treats. We feed the complete household – there’s one thing right here for everybody, from all walks of life.”
