The Lemon Grove Cafe is open for business

When I left YSU in 1998, downtown was not too far from a ghost town. There were a few bars, but the boarded up buildings were far more prevalent. Today, though I haven’t done the necessary count, I have to believe the ratio has turned.

With the opening of The Lemon Grove last week, the count of productive storefronts is increased by yet one more. Jaci and I came down for dinner Sunday night after the charity bike run festivities downtown were finished. We each had a panini and freshly made apple juice.

Firstly, the apple juice is delicious. It tastes like a smoothie, even though it’s “just” juice. The panini is also very good. In fact, I enjoyed a third one today. The menu is, for the moment, abbreviated. The manager said they were still working through the launch and would have an expanded menu within weeks. For now, you can choose from a selection of paninis featuring various meats and cheeses (and you can even design your own); carrot, apple, and celery juices; appetizers of “Garden Fresh Homemade Salsa” and hummus; specialty coffees; and a small assortment of baked goods. You can add chips or potato salad to your “Sandwhich.” (I advised them to correct the menu, unless they were going for some kind of pun.)

The juices are $3.50 and totally worth it. The muffins, however, priced at $2.00 are not enough to justify the cost. Hopefully they’ll either enlarge the muffins or downsize the price. Coffee drinks are also good, though I think I saw my server looking up how to make a cafe mocha (and she overlooked the whipped cream). I was offered a choice of “skim, organic or soy milk.” I asked about the organic and was told “it’s 2%, but the cows are treated better.” Organic it is.

Come down and check out the Lemon Grove. I’m writing from a table near the back right now. A table with several chairs and a lamp–it’s a bit noisy near the kitchen but perfect for spreading out and getting some work done.

The most remarkable part about the Lemon Grove? They’re the first business to get established downtown and realize where they’re really going to make money: YSU students. When I was at YSU and I needed a place to study or hang out late at night, we drove up Belmont to Taco Bell, Perkins or Dennys. Now, students can just walk downtown and take advantage of the Lemon Grove’s unbelievable hours: Open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, Monday-Friday 8am 11am-4am, Saturday-Sunday 11am-4am!

[Edit: Apparently not everyone walks by the Lemon Grove on a weekly basis, awaiting its opening. You'll find it on the West end of Federal Street: 122 W Federal to be exact. Thanks to commenters for filling in the missing pieces.]

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