Earth Friends is reinventing itself in downtown Louisville, will close NuLu location.

Earth Friends Cafe began in April, 2011 on the North Side of the West Bank -- the spot off Grant Line Road soon to be occupied by the Donum Dei brewery. A year later, hours were expanded. In June of 2012, Earth Friends replaced Hobknobb at the library "cafe" space. In January, 2013, Earth Friends relocated to NuLu, and in August of the same year the library space passed to Muscle Monkey. Earth Friends got a downtown Louisville space near the convention center, and now the NuLu branch will close. Muscle Monkey is no more (Jason moved to Hawaii), and the library space is now a conference room.

Two reasons for all this:

1. As always, best of luck to Stacie and crew, because ...

2. ... this small business thing is really hard. If you haven't done it, how could you grasp it -- right, Mr. D?

Earth Friends Cafe closes its NuLu location, Caitlin Bowling (Louisville Business First)

Earth Friends Cafe could not sustain two locations, according to owner Stacie Bale, so she has closed her NuLu store.

The NuLu restaurant opened in 2012 on Market Street, between Campbell and Shelby streets. Bale opened the downtown Louisville location in October at the corner of Third and Market streets in the Kentucky International Convention Center ...

New Earth Friends Cafe location in NuLu now open.

Yesterday, with time to stroll prior to watching Richard tap firkins at The Garage Bar in NuLu, I hunted down Earth Friends Cafe's new location at 829 E. Market (that's Louisville). It opened on Wednesday.

The Earth Friends page at Facebook has details.

The New Albany location inside the public library remains open, but the original space off Grant Line Road is no more; this is a relocation, not an expansion. The new digs are pleasant, and the espresso (my personal yardstick) was good. Because my appearance came just as Earth Friends was closing for the afternoon, I didn't take photos, but will next time.

More on the Earth Friends Cafe & Coffee Bar relocation from Grant Line to NuLu..

Previously at NAC: Earth Friends Cafe & Coffee Bar will have an outlet in NuLu.

What I like most about Stacie's greetings on the arrival of the New Year is the honesty and sincerity of her sentiments, without the usual corporate gobbeldygook. No Bob Evans press release, this.

We'll miss Earth Friends on Grant Line Road, and wish Stacie and the gang the very best in Louisville.

---

Earth Friends Cafe & Coffee Bar

Happy New Year! We would like to take this opportunity on the first day of a New Year to express extreme heartfelt gratitude to all of those who patronize Earth Friends Café. Despite our hard to find location, and along with the construction going on for most of our days on Grant Line, our business stayed alive – well enough to expand to a second location inside the New Albany Floyd County Public Library.

In the latter half of 2012 we started looking for a potential Louisville location with the intention to make it a third location. However, we soon discovered since we are not yet two years old, the support to get the financial backing for a third location was not possible. Yet, we had already found a location in Louisville we felt would be perfect for what we are doing, so we have made the very hard decision to move the Grant Line location to the NuLu district in Louisville.

The most heart wrenching part in all of this is the fact that we have an established clientele at Grant Line who – if it were not for them – we would not be where we are now. There is some comfort in the fact that we are not leaving New Albany all together – we still have the library location, which has become vaster with its menu and offerings. If you have not been, there is a full service espresso bar, Panini grill for hot sandwiches, daily soup offering, and the option for combos with sandwiches, soup and/or salad. Right now there are five tables, but we hope to propose an expansion in the near future to make more seating available. All of the EFC favorites are there including the Veggie Wrap, Mediterranean Tuna, Chicken Pesto Wrap; as well as many Vegan options.

Lastly, we ARE trying to sell the business in hopes that the location stays alive to serve consumers in the area. We get a lot of business from General Mills, IUS, and several surrounding businesses. The location could continue as an 11a-2p, Monday-Friday lunch spot for someone who wishes to have their own café – or own their own business. If you know of anyone looking to start their own café, or for more information on the sale, please contact me at the Grant Line location (812)725-9393. It will be for sale until Friday, January 18th.

Again, thanks for making Earth Friends a success. We are very excited to enter the Louisville market and focus on becoming even more pro-LOCAL and ORGANIC with our food and beverage choices. The new space is going to be amazing, including outdoor seating. (Not to mention our kitchen will be five times bigger!)
We will be in our space at Grant Line until the end of January.

With much LOVE, GRATITUDE, and RESPECT,
Stacie Bale
Owner-Operator

Earth Friends Cafe & Coffee Bar will have an outlet in NuLu.

First, the good news (via Facebook, where the photo was seen):

"IT'S OFFICIAL! The lease is signed!!! Say "HELLO" to Earth Friends Cafe & Coffee Bar new home at 829 E Market in NuLu (the former Bodega at Felice space). Just wait until the good weather returns - we will have outdoor seating! We are psyched!"

Then there is a minor detail, implying "bad for the NA Northside" news:

We are re-locating the Grant Line location. We will still be in the library and hope to expand the seating area there. The library has an extensive menu, including hot sandwiches and soups.

I'm assuming this means the Grant Line location travels to NuLu, and the only Earth Friends outlet in NA will be the library. Good luck to them, but we'll miss 'em in the hood.

Library espresso swap: Hobknobb out, Earth Friends in.

This is great news, and a fine opportunity for an original New Albany First indie business association member to help redefine the library experience for coming generations.

Earth Friends Cafe to open inside NA-FC Library; HobKnobb coffee shop closed May 31, by Chris Morris (Hanson's Zinc Ad Compendium)

 ... “This is a great opportunity for us,” said Stacie Bale, operator and a co-owner of Earth Friends Cafe. “We are really excited about it.”

Bale and NA-FC Library Director Rose Frost said several library patrons had expressed an interest in having hot food and sandwiches available, instead of just coffee. The library board and Barb Fischer, owner of Hobknobb, agreed to break their two-year lease last month.

Expanded hours for Earth Friends Cafe.

Earth Friends Cafe & Coffee Bar at 3211 Grant Line Road, Suite 3 (at the Summit Square) has announced new operating hours:

Starting this week, EFC will be open from 8:30am-7:00pm Monday through Thursday. Full menu will be available for dine-in and carry-out. And as always, free wi-fi is up and running. So come chat while your kids are at practice, hang out while your parents are at work, or study just because it's an awesome place with a full coffee bar and café menu focusing on local, organic, fair-trade, and cruelty-free products. Hope to see everyone soon!

Nice press for Earth Friends in the C-J.

On the same day that Professor Erika encourages the wee ones to expedite their monies out of town (the shareholders of Mega-chain-land thank you, dear), the C-J's Dale Moss profiles Stacie and her grassroots, local Earth Friends Cafe. Irony -- what a concept. Here's an excerpt.

Cafe serves food with thought; Restaurateur caters to vegans, vegetarians

Is a steady paycheck really worth it?

Stacie Henehan Bale’s answer is in a partly filled strip center alongside a funeral home off Grant Line Road in New Albany, Ind.

There, Bale owns and runs Earth Friends Cafe. Almost 41, Bale is finally her own boss, ready as she can be to cope when it seems no one else ever is going to come in that door.

Bale caters a good bit to vegetarians and to vegans in a Southern Indiana in which people line up for Paula Deen’s buffet. Bale likes her chances, nonetheless. Once in a while, business fairly thrives.

New Albany First public information session and membership meeting this Wednesday, October 12.

(submitted)

Public Information Session/Membership Meeting

Time: Wednesday, October 12 · 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Location: Earth Friends Cafe & Coffee Bar, 3211 Grant Line Road (Behind El Nopal), New Albany, Indiana

Come join New Albany First and learn more about this growing organization, and why it's so important to the health and vitality of our local, independent business community. We welcome members and visitors alike. Thank you to Earth Friends Cafe for hosting this month's gathering.

Mission Statement: New Albany First is a non-profit organization dedicated to the task of supporting locally owned independent businesses in New Albany. Education of and engaging the public, working with like-minded organizations, and partnering with locally owned independent businesses will help us reach a goal of creating a stronger, better New Albany both in terms of economic stability and sustainability.

Espresso and French cuisine. In New Albany.

Yep, it's a Bodum Pavina Double Wall Thermo Espresso Shot Glass. The liquid's warm, but your hand is not. They're being used at Earth Friends Cafe & Coffee Bar, which makes a great double espresso.

In other food and dining news, another eatery is coming to downtown New Albany: French restaurant planned in New Albany (Courier-Journal). It will be doing business at 133 E. Market, a.k.a the Bergman Building, where Artesia was the most recent tenant. We wish them well.

Now open: Earth Friends Cafe & Coffee Bar (Grant Line Road near NABC).

Earth Friends Cafe & Coffee Bar opened just last week. It is located in the Summit Square strip, off Grant Line Road (roughly behind El Nopal, in the direction of the funeral home).

This spot is a stone's throw from both NABC Pizzeria & Public House, and NA Exchange. I had a well-poured double espresso there on Wednesday, and as you will see by following the Facebook link, the owners have evolving plans to widen the cafe's scope.

It's another welcome addition to the Northside/IUS entertainment district. Good luck!