What started as an upscale gentlemen’s clothing store is now a rapidly expanding Elmwood Village micro campus, and the latest addition is Postscript Café.
Located behind 710 Elmwood Ave., Postscript is a café and creperie that expands on the location’s other two offerings: the High Violet cocktail bar and men’s clothing store Bureau. Like High Violet, Postscript is clearly a passion project; inspired by those fleeting during a vacation when you stop and appreciate your situation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Postscript can be accessed by an alley that runs alongside the main building. That’s part of the allure. Also like High Violet, Postscript attempts to balance seclusion and accessibility; blend gotta-be-there hotspot with underground hipster vibes.
Co-owner Bob Clerici admits to me that his team put too much emphasis on being low key, and they are now looking to boost visibility.
“It’s kind of cool to be under the radar,” he notes. “People coming to High Violet have tended to be in-the-know. But we’re not visible enough in the market. We are certainly looking to get the word out. We want to keep that under-the-radar vibe, but we’re looking to balance that a bit with more visibility.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Open during the day for breakfast and lunch, the new café has become a part of that play for increased visibility. It’s hard for a place to be hip and in-the-know when people are rocking up with baby strollers. And while crepes are cool, they’re not that cool.
Still, the new café is very appealing. High Violet has a beautifully designed interior, and the outdoor café is an extension of that elegance, featuring a mid-century ‘surf shack’ space and comfy outdoor deck seating. The café offers takeout, as most cafes do, but Clerici says people love the space so much — they tend to linger.
“We thought the café was going to be mostly grab-n-go, but we ended up having a lot of sit-down customers,” he says. “I think the main reason is the inside space is so beautiful, and it’s climate controlled. And the outdoor patio is such a unique and beautiful spot, especially in the summer.”
The café space may be beautiful, but the real reason you’re going is to get food. The menu offers sweet and savory crepes, salads and breakfast sandwiches. Beverage options include drip coffee and iced coffee, sourced from Craft Coffee House in Pendleton, as well as sparkling mineral waters. The café also serves beer, wine and sparkling cocktails.
With a lot to offer, it should come as no surprise that the café has been a popular Elmwood Village spot during the day. At 5 p.m., the café closes and the concept flips over to High Violet. Clerici says plans for the café are still in flux, and it’s possible the Postscript concept may be shuttered during the winter.
“Our intention was to keep it open year-round and we built it that way,” he says. “But I’m still unsure how practical that is at this point.
“A couple things are tough to predict. We know it’s going to get cold and snowy, but we don’t know how the space is going to react to that weather. How is snow removal going to work? Also, how are we going to staff the place with the weather being such a big factor?”
Our advice is to keep an eye on the café’s Instagram page to see if the café’s surf shack will be converted into a mini winter chalet.
Hours at time of publishing (Subject to change): Wednesday to Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday and Tuesday CLOSED
Want to share info or news with us? Send us a note!
