The Strong Hearts Café was brought into reality by two good friends, Joel Capolongo and Nick Ryan. They envisioned a vegan cafe for the growing vegetarian and vegan population in Syracuse that could provide locally grown and produce foods.

Although the café’s location, 719 E. Genesee St, appears ideal, it was a stroke of luck that found it. The story goes that a close friend recommended the location as she walked to the Onondaga Massage School and noticed the vacant café space. Once learning of the location Capolongo and Ryan jumped at the opportunity to work their business plans around the location. “We are also very happy that the city is making strides to make biking safer by adding the bike lanes to the corridor,” says Capolongo. “We are right in the middle of an exciting time for our neighborhood and are happy to be able to share in the experience.” In between two hotels, a spa, a massage school and several medical offices the business was bound to be successful.

The Strong Hearts Café is also near the bus stop at E Genesee and Forman Street, easy transportation for passengers coming from University Hill or Downtown. Continues Capolongo, “We are excited about the proposed plans for our area. We attended the public meeting about the Connective Corridor at the Syracuse Stage and feel the initiative will benefit our immediate neighborhood, and Syracuse as a whole, tremendously. That the Connective Corridor will encourage more people to come to the area and make it a more attractive place to visit can only help all of our businesses.

With a knowledgeable staff and even better customer service Strong Hearts cafe has receive an influx of students and regular vegan customers looking for a good healthy meal. Customers that come in, regulars or newcomers, “act very favorably to the café” says co-owner Capolongo. “People do not even realize we are a vegan café,” he continues. “They’ll stop in, order a “chicken” salad sandwich and a milkshake and not even think twice when they are eating it because it tastes so much like the ‘real thing’.”

With a variety of 32 different milkshakes made of soy ice cream and soymilk, customers find it difficult to differentiate between the vegan fare and non-vegan equivalents. The café also takes special orders for delicious homemade cakes and cupcakes, proving wrong the idea that quality desserts can’t be made without dairy products. And for those concerned with the environment, the takeaway containers are 100% biodegradable and compostable.

For a review on Strong Hearts Cafe visit Pulled into Syracuse.

To get a menu or to learn more about go to Strong Heart Cafe.