Impero Coffee opened its Short North location in 2009, and since then, they have become a go-to for not only hot and iced coffee drinks, but for locally-sourced lunches as well that includes amazing soups and satisfying sandwiches. It’s no wonder then that the store has had to recently expand, doubling its seating capacity and broadening its menu.
“We wanted to have room to do more,” owner Lucinda Sontag admits. “Now, we can have poetry readings, art shows, and live music”.
Already Knick Pfost, a local musician, jams every weekend at Impero, and they are inviting other groups, acts, and artists to come out and be a part of the action. The new add-on has large, comfortable, leather chairs and couches, tables alongside a wall of glass (good for people watching), and an area that can be used for a stage.
All of this was designed with the spirit of the Short North area in mind; making a space where local thinkers and creators can express themselves is what the area represents. The area also likes to eat, so beginning in a couple weeks, Impero will introduce brunch to be held on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-2pm.
“Our chef is amazing!” Sontag gushes. “She makes the best food, and everything is from scratch. I don’t know how she does it, but everything she makes is really, really delicious”.
The chef is Sharon Udoh, a former customer who took over the kitchen last Spring. A Nigerian native, her Miracle Soup – and everything else she creates – is the stuff that just makes you feel good from the inside out and all around. Chef Udoh will be adding traditional brunch dishes like French Toast to her repertoire, but will put her own distinct twist on it, marrying sweet and savory flavors together.
More information can be found online at www.imperocoffee.com.
Photo provided by Chris Walker Photography.
