Agave’d Cafe to open new location in East Memphis
Memphis is getting a new cafe based on all-natural agave syrups.
Agave’d announced March 14 that the California-based company will open a cafe concept in East Memphis. Plans call for a June opening in the Shops of Chickasaw Gardens.
At 3139 Poplar Ave., Agave’d Cafe will open in the 1,247-square-foot freestanding building that most recently was occupied by E’s 24-Hour Cafe.
The company specializes in organic raw blue agave infused with natural and fresh ingredients. The agave can be used to naturally sweeten and flavor cocktails, mocktails and other assorted beverages and dishes.
Owner Lacey Lauterio will bring her Agave’d Cafe concept from Los Angeles to Memphis. She moved to Memphis in 2018 after becoming engaged to a Memphis-based executive.
Established in 2015, Agave’d started its business selling organic infused agave syrups as a way to make healthier cocktails. Sales began at Los Angelesarea farmers markets and expanded into direct sales of the natural agave syrups to hospitality users in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
After her move to Memphis, Lauterio decided to bring her health-conscious concept directly to consumers in a cafestyle storefront. Agave’d will serve its house-made agave syrups in organic sweet teas, lemonades, coffees, Italian sodas and other assorted beverages.
According to Lauterio, organic agave is a healthy and lower-calorie alternative to sugar.
“We use organic agave because the production process uses low heat and no chemicals in producing the syrup, which allows the body to process the sweetener more naturally than refined sugar or high fructose corn syrup,” Lauterio said. “And because agave syrup is about 1.5 times sweeter than sugar, we can use less calories to sweeten our drinks. It’s a win-win for your body and for your taste buds.”
Agave’d agave syrup flavors include hibiscus, blackberry, raw ginger, vanilla bean and a raw vegan chocolate cacao, along with seasonal flavors such as peppermint, gingerbread and organic pumpkin spice for the holidays and flavors such as fresh white peach and blood orange during the spring and summer.
Healthy grab-and-go items, such as protein balls, oatmeal and super food salads, also will be available. There will be seating inside and on a patio.
According to Loeb Properties, there will be some interior buildout to the space plus the addition of exterior patio seating.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler @commercialappeal.com, and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.