WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?

Elf Café is the “third space” (a place other than home or work) that parents need to make their busy lives easier and more enjoyable. Unlike most restaurants, Elf is a place where having your children with you is easy – not a nightmare, while parents enjoy an aesthetic and a quality of food normally reserved for non-kid-friendly establishments. It will have an open and airy Scandinavian-inspired feel with intimate seating areas specifically designed to accommodate children and their caregivers and a beautiful, landscaped outdoor seating and play area. Other amenities include nursing/feeding areas, a soundproof area in which to calm a crying child, stroller bays and spacious changing facilities, and full technological capability (wifi). But it's more than just a café, and the explanation is all in the meaning of the name: Eat. Learn. Frolic.

Eat.  Elf Café will feature local, seasonal and organic food with a menu designed by Eric Patterson and Jennifer Blakeslee, chefs at The Cooks’ House. We plan to offer high-quality grab-and-stay fare, including pre-made sandwiches and salads, a make-your-own yogurt bar, a fresh juice and smoothie bar, coffee, tea, cocoa, and natural sodas, as well as several variations of our signature "Elf Meal," which will contain a healthy sandwich, fruit or vegetable side, and a small sweet treat and/or small toy. Our overarching philosophy is that parents shouldn't have to sacrifice fun for healthy food; therefore, Elf will be focused on organic, simple foods that children and parents will equally enjoy.

So the two joined forces to create Elf Café.

ELF'S ONLINE COMMUNITY

A common thread among parents, especially new parents, is that parenthood can be isolating and even lonely at times. Elf is intent on creating a community, not only among parents, but anyone who recognizes that children are an integral part of our community and that their caregivers should have places to share ideas, ask questions, and get support. To such end, Elf will offer an online community that will feature blogs and articles on various topics important to Elf customers, such as parenting and ecological living, a parenting Q&A, "Ask Pammy," with child-rearing guru Pam Mervau and other child-development specialists, a swap-and-shop where parents can offer gently used items for sale, trade, or free, class and event-space sign-ups, and more.
 
DO I NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO ENJOY ELF CAFÉ?

No, of course not! Everyone is welcome to come to Elf and enjoy a cup of coffee and a delicious meal; however, as with any business that offers a membership structure, becoming an Elf member provides a number of additional benefits and conveniences, including:

* discounts on food, beverage, and retail items and event-space rentals
* unlimited access to Elf play spaces (non-members will be charged a small per-child fee to use play areas)
* member rates for Elf classes and priority registration
* priority access to "Homework Happy Hour" (where we convert our party space into a homework space from 3:30-5pm Monday-Thursday with special drink discounts and tutors available to answer questions and help with difficult problems)
* special members-only events throughout the year (including seasonal parties, seminars, guest speakers, visiting authors (in collaboration with National Writers Series), new-product demos, and more)
* advance ordering/secure pre-payment by text or QR code
* Elf CSA ordering and pick-up (an exclusive CSA (community-supported agriculture) in partnership with local producers where members can select seasonal produce and other local products and pick up boxes weekly at Elf Café) 
* access to special log-in portion of the Elf website for CSA ordering, account management (including convenient pre-payment options), and more
* member voting on nonprofit grants from Elf's affiliated foundation, Ecological Living Foundation

Elf Café has been busily looking for the perfect location in Traverse City, a place that is both centrally located and easily accessible on foot or by vehicle for busy parents and also one that provides a beautiful setting. And we have just found the perfect site in Slabtown: on Randolph Street just west of Division across from Sleder's Tavern! One of our most ardent supporters has had their offer accepted and, pending inspections, closing will occur in the next month. Over the winter, they will be constructing a new and modern energy-efficient space for Elf to lease complete with living roofs, gardens, and a beautiful landscaped outdoor seating and play area.

We are using a private-investor business model rather than taking out bank loans. We want our community as invested in this idea as we are – and they are showing their support. We have already secured almost all of what we need to get started.

WHY WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

The last $25,000 will help us reach our funding goal so we can break ground this fall to allow us to adhere to our intended grand opening date of May 1, 2014. We want you to feel invested in this community café too.

HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT YOU?

Elf will be a community resource: it will bring grandparents, parents, children and other community members together in a beautiful zero-waste space where all can enjoy seasonal, healthy and locally-sourced meals while playing or relaxing. It will also offer classes of all sorts for people of all ages. Elf plans to give back to the community by donating a portion of Elf's profits to local nonprofits chosen by our members through our affiliated foundation, Ecological Living Foundation. 

And for those of you who are not lucky enough to live in Traverse City, sure, the first Elf Café will be here, but it won’t stop there. We believe that parents across the country would benefit from and support an Elf Café in their communities and we intend to make this possible. If you support the first Elf, you will help make it possible for an Elf Café to come to your neighborhood and to many others like yours nationwide.

ELF COLLABORATORS

Bay Area Recycling for Charities
Blackbird Arts
Birch Point Farm
Carter's Compost
Chelsea Bay Design
Cynthia Borgerson & Amy VanderMeer | Design Canopy
David Fred, IT Consultant
Ferris Hennig | Ten Twelve Films
Goldeneye Asset Management
Higher Grounds Trading Company
Human Nature School
Jennifer Blakeslee & Eric Patterson, Chefs
Joshua Davis, Singer-Songwriter
Jonelle Bowers
Just Good Chocolate
Leelanau Backyard Harvest
Light of Day Organics
Maple Achers Farm
Mark Bonanni, Illustrator
Maue Design
Michael Fitzhugh, Architect
Modern Summer
Morsels Bakery
Nic Welty | 9 Bean Rows
Terrarium Bar

THANK YOU!

Thank you so much for your interest in and support of Elf Café. We welcome your feedback and suggestions and look forward to celebrating our grand opening with you next spring!