Caffe d’Italia (1720 NW Lovejoy, Suite 121) has now become the OZ Cafe, and they’re celebrating their grand opening this weekend with a party on Saturday night. Here’s what new owner/operator Lucas Mollerstuen has to say:
I recently purchased the cafe, which at the time was no more than a lunch and coffee spot for nearby students and career professionals, after working there for a year. The previous owners were not owner/operators, nor were they much into realizing the potential of the building or the surrounding areas. I aim to fix this problem by stretching my arms to the local community, which includes, at a base that will be ever expanding, bi-monthly live music/poetry readings, monthly art shows including the works of nearby college and high school students, outdoor cheesy movies and wine (lovingly dubbed “whine and cheesy nights”) nights during the summer in the alley that runs by the cafe, and much more in the works.
Our menu is ever changing, clinging to a few guidelines: We serve panini sandwiches, with a new panino each month; we make pizza from scratch each day with ever changing toppings; we make fresh soup every day; but what I believe the most outstanding menu item is our coffee. We serve Grounds for Change coffee roasts, a fair trade, shade-grown, organic coffee out of Paulsboro, Washington.
Saturday’s party includes free food and music from Tender Loving Empire artists (whose retail store is located next door to OZ). Should be a neighborhood blast! Things get started around 7 pm with the recession-friendly price of FREE.