EDEN ALLEY...HISTORY...The story of Eden in Kansas City
the story of Eden Alley Café and Unity Temple on the Plaza
Co-founders Sandi Corder and Monica Jones were approached by Unity Temple’s Minister, Duke Tufty to operate some form of concession or coffee shop in the church. He had been a regular at the previous restaurant where both had worked. Duke had a vision of using Meyer Hall, on the lower level of the church, to bring the congregation together on Sundays. After some discussions, Eden Alley Café officially opened on Easter Sunday of 1994 with a reception for 800 people, Unity’s congregation. It was a success! The café opened, mostly vegetarian, with eight tables in Meyer Hall on the lower level of Unity Temple on the Plaza.
Our motivation was that the percentage of vegetarian places around Kansas City were very slim...and they went out of business often. I (Sandi Corder-Clootz) had been a vegetarian since the age of 13 and knew how hard it is to find a place that has a menu designed around vegetables, grains, fruits, seeds and some dairy. "Protein" being the main focus in most places and that protein being an animal, really provided little for people who had made the conscious choice to not eat animals. There was definitely a NEED for a place like Eden Alley.
After seven successful years, Monica Jones decided to leave the restaurant to raise her two children and Sandi assumed full ownership of the café. With help from my husband Greg, I began transitioning the menu towards a focus on health and well-being, and shortly thereafter, my husband became co-owner and partner in this venture.
The location brought a wide range of clientele, ranging from artists and musicians to corporate executives...and we still have the same diverse, and very loyal, customer base. My husband and I believe that if we can get someone to try the food, they always come back! Sometimes vegan/vegetarian food can be scary to someone who doesn’t understand...and we show them it’s simple...just flavor and nutrition...the possibilities are endless.
We have grown in size and knowledge over the 15 years we have been open. There are several areas we have improved on from a health point. The majority of our menu selections are completely vegan or able to be with slight modification. We also offer gluten free, soy free and raw items. We incorporate traditional, organic and synthetic free ingredients in creating our specials. We also make it a point to continuously change our special offerings, on a daily basis, so that our customers have a fantastic variety. They come several times a week and have the choice of ordering a different meal each time. We list our full menu, daily specials and all on our website: www.edenalley.com so our customers always know what we’re serving.
Now, fifteen years in business, Eden Alley Café has become a cornerstone of the Kansas City dining experience offering vegetarian, vegan, and health-conscious meals to hundreds each day.
The café now seats 100 with an additional 20 seats on Unity’s inviting garden patio. Open Monday and Tuesday for lunch from 11 ‘til 2.30 and Wednesday thru Friday for lunch and Dinner from 11 to 9.
We are also a full-service caterer offering a variety of different kinds of food, specializing in vegan and vegetarian, but we have experience in a wide variety of culinary styles, including those featuring meats and many ethnic and cultural variations.
As a small business who helps feed the world, we believe that conducting a profitable business in ways that are sensitive to the environment is the only way to do business.
Our commitment to the environment and emphasis on awareness, conservation, waste reduction and recycling positively affects the lives of our customers, staff and all of the inhabitants in our surrounding area, today and tomorrow. We support and encourage recycling and all actions to reduce the solid waste produced in our restaurant operation and are constantly in search of better ways of doing business.
Eden Alley Café features a relaxing atmosphere and passionate food to energize you. We combine traditional, organic, local and synthetic-free ingredients to create a “Divine Flavor for the Conscious Eater.” Vegetarian. Vegan. Raw. Gluten-Free. Exquisite meals that make you feel good and live healthier using the flavors and vitality of the ingredients.
We offer fast and scrumptious lunch. Luxurious and delectable dinner. Essence of the Garden Fridays featuring Local Farm Fresh and Organic Specials. Imaginative Saturday Brunch from 11-4, featuring vegetarian and vegan breakfast items. Always lots of Daily Specials. Outside dining on our Garden Patio, with a street level view of the Plaza.
Our customers tend to love pretty much everything they eat. A popular phrase we hear is “I’ve never had a bad meal here” or the other day, “This is the best food we have ever eaten, outside of our house” pretty great comments! Our customers appreciate us and we love them!
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cafe: to-go orders & reservations (816) 561-5415
MONDAY + TUESDAY : LUNCH ONLY : 11 to 2.30
WEDNESDAY thru SATURDAY : LUNCH + DINNER : 11 to 9
catering (816) 561-7595
EDEN ALLEY CAFE + CATERING, 707 W 47, lower level of Unity Temple on the Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, Missouri
VEGETARIAN. VEGAN. RAW. GLUTEN and SOY FREE featuring a blend of LOCAL, ORGANIC and TRADITIONAL ingredients.
Connected to a six-story parking garage with covered access and wheelchair accessability from the Jefferson side of the garage.
Ride a bike? We have a nine-space bike rack located under the covered access just between the garage and building entrance.
Eden Alley Cafe, a Kansas City vegetarian restaurant, offering divine flavor for the conscious eater,
with a blend of traditional, organic, synthetic-free and local ingredients, in the creation of a
vegetarian, vegan, raw, soy and gluten free menu items, including daily specials.
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Stir-Well to Heaven the Eden Alley Cookbook
85 pages of nutritional information, recipes and beautiful photography!
Website & Contents © 2010 Eden Alley Café
website by:
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