Empire renews Breakfast at Tiffany’s

By Jane Greiner
Sun contributor
Breakfast will be just one of the features at the revamped Tiffany’s Café in Empire under the management of Ashlea Walter. The local community leader is giving the business a new lease on life after taking over from Dick Owen who ran the ice cream shop for the past 25 years. Walter has painted the interior in bright, sunny yellows, blues and mint greens and given it a fresh, airy feel.
The arrangement Walter and Owen worked out seems ideal for both. Having a café was “something I’ve always wanted to do, so it was good timing for both of us,” she says. Walter rents and owns the café now while Owen still lives in the back of the building and continues to bake fresh doughnuts every day.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s includes baked goods such as scones, muffins, brownies and cookies, doughnuts and cinnamon twists, plus tea or coffee. “His doughnuts are pretty famous,” Walter says. For a little more stick-to-your-ribs fare you can order breakfast stratas, a layered breakfast casserole dish, in either vegetarian or non-vegetarian versions.
Light lunches will also be on the menu. Sandwiches include hot dogs, roast beef, turkey and vegetarian. In addition, Tiffany’s will offer So Good Coffee, made by Derek Prechtl of local biking fame, and By the Light of Day Tea.
Besides breakfast and lunch menus, Walter plans to feature picnic items to take to the beach, including sandwiches, chips, sodas, baked goods and healthy fruit and nut mixes. “I think Empire really needs a light deli and picnic fixings” place, she says.
Of course, ice cream will still be the main focus. Tiffany’s carries Moomers ice cream, the delicious premium brand made near Traverse City.
Together with local chocolatier Mimi Wheeler, Walter has concocted a special Grocer’s Daughter Sundae. This delicious creation consists of vanilla or chocolate ice cream, Mimi’s chocolate sauce and topping, with roasted almonds, cocoa nips, maple and whipped cream. Makes me want to go there right now!
There is also a Fudge Brownie Sundae and one called Worms & Dirt, which is sure to appeal to the younger set.
Walter has moved fast in starting her new business. She began cleaning and painting the week before Memorial Day and commenced selling ice cream to customers the first week of June. Since then she has been busy hiring and training staff. “I have a great crew of about six people — a great group of kids, mostly 14-17.” She has added a small retail section, including Empire t-shirts and Glen Clark posters. “A little bit of everything,” she says.
Another innovation at Tiffany’s is lunch delivery, via bicycle, inside the village, Monday through Friday. “We have no table service, so it’s a faster, lighter alternative. We always have vegetarian options. We try to promote local and seasonal items as much as possible. We use organic and fair trade coffee, and the same with the tea.” The café is now smoke-free.
Summing up, Walter says, “We just want to make it a fresh, lively place for a light lunch or a treat.”
Tiffany’s Café, on the main street in Empire, will be open 7:30 am to 10 pm every day throughout the summer.