Lell's is located across from Winthrop Commons (where Earth Fare is.) Saeed and I like to spend our money (well, he'd like it if everything were free) on things that either benefit or at least don't harm certain beloved causes: animals, the environment, the arts, or in this case, a local small business. With everything part of a chain these days it's harder than you'd think.
It's a nice warm, homey atmosphere. While waiting for our food we grabbed the newspaper and read, and after hearing a bit of sizzling and clanking from the kitchen we were served a veggie omelet, grits, and a biscuit. All home made, all from scratch. Super yummy. No calorie counting please.
Lell's is visited by lots of Winthrop folk, both student and professor. When we arrived at 7:15 AM this fellow was the only customer but by the time we left the tables were mostly full. Because it's a one woman show with few wait staff she is only open for breakfast and lunch, 7 AM - 3 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.
Lell has had lots of difficulty sustaining a small business in these economic times with ingredients that are more expensive. She writes a poignant story in her blog about hoping she can hang on. She mentions that she does all the food prep herself (I saw that this morning) so perhaps that sign reflects her motto. I hope she makes it.
Mission Statement from the website:
Lell’s Café is about real food and quality products. Our passion is evident in the ingredients we use and the relationships we have with our producers, growers and customers. We believe in sourcing seasonal products direct from York County soil and the surrounding environs while employing direct/fair trade buying practices with the growers and roasters of our coffee beans.
It is our goal to be able to pinpoint a spot on a map with the name of the farm or person responsible for the ingredients in what you eat and drink. Sustainability and organic practice produces better food with less strain on the environment. Running a restaurant in accordance with these standards speaks to our personal philosophy of supporting a cleaner environment through our persistence in food and coffee knowledge and our commitment to this community.
The two year journey to open this café has seen many changes, many reality checks and lots of soul searching. The idea of Community encompasses every aspect of this project. We would not exist without the support of the “village” that made this business possible. Financially we are a “CSR” which stands for Community Supported Restaurant. This model allows us to be financially stable through the commitment of loyal customers and allows us to support local farmers. It removes us from the staid model of bank financing and frees us to grow sensibly and with little outstanding debt. The model also ensures that the customers who come here believe in the food and coffee that we serve. In the big picture it creates a sustainable local circle…. An infinity of sustenance and support.
Lell’s Café is committed and willing to support an ever increasing supply of local resources while reducing the need to rely on big box suppliers. It is a simple formula: the more you the customer supports eating local the more growers can afford to produce local food.
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