LULU CRÊPE

LULU CREPE LULU CREPE

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OLIVIA VANGUNDY DAFNE THEROUX IZQUIERDO

when eliza grégoire offered to make crepes for one of her favorite bands, she didn’t expect it would lead to her watching from backstage as indie-rock singer Mac DeMarco performed at Red Rocks Amphitheater.

Grégoire was animated as she shared the story of how she made crepes for DeMarco and electro-pop singer Clairo during the very first week she opened Lulu Crepe. It was a magical experience for the young entrepreneur and an opportunity, she said, that wouldn’t have happened if she didn’t have the courage to just ask.

This attitude is what ultimately brought Grégoire and her delicious crepes to the Grand Valley.

Before she moved to Colorado, Grégorie grew up in Indiana. Her parents moved to the United States from France so her father, a professional race car driver, could race in the Indy 500. Grégoire fondly remembers hiding in golf carts to get past security at her father’s races. It was through watching her father that she developed a desire to race. Her father knew the danger of racing cars, so he encouraged her to pursue cycling. Grégoire became a competitive cyclist and was invited to Colorado Mesa University on a cycling scholarship.

When she started at CMU,

she dreamed about opening a business in which she could create something she’s passionate about. Grégoire is currently taking a break from school to focus on her new crepe business.

“I grew up with crepes being my favorite thing to eat. My mom would make them for me,” said Grégoire. Her mother, who grew up in France, learned how to make crepes from her grandmother, Lulu, and carried on the after-school tradition with her own children.

Crepes were a sweet treat that Grégoire thought should be more accessible in the

“I really don’t want to be a business person. I’ve always been interested in art. This is art to me — it’s a way for me to express myself.” - Eliza Grégoire

Grand Valley. She wanted to create quality crepes at an affordable price.

The summer after her fresh- man year, Grégoire decided to spend her break in France to work at her uncle’s bar. She was inspired and motivated to finally start pursuing a crepe business, which she named after her great-grandmother. Working for her uncle helped her develop a work ethic and skills in customer service. That summer, Grégoire said she could see her dream forming into a tangible business plan.

“I had brainstormed my idea for a year, and when I was in France, I could see it happening," Grégoire said. "I saw crepes everywhere. I thought about how we don’t have this in the United States.”

Grégoire reached out to Kiln Coffee Bar owners David and Jonathan Foster about operating a crepe stand inside the coffeehouse. David said it felt natural to believe in what she was doing, so they agreed to partner with her.

“She thinks, for the most part, that she’s getting the better end of the stick, but I think it’s been huge for our customers. It brings in a different demographic. It’s a natural partnership,” David Foster said.

Lulu Crepe opened in October 2019. Grégoire operates out of Kiln several days a week and has worked many local events.

When it comes to marketing, branding and making crepes, Grégoire does it all. For Grégoire, Lulu Crepe is about art and being able to create.

“Art has always been huge for me. I really don’t want to be a business person. I’ve always been interested in art. This is art to me — it’s a way for me to express myself,” she said.

Grégoire intends to continue growing the business, and she has the strong support of her customers and Kiln.

“We would love to see her open her own space. We want to help be a part of that,” David Foster said. ▪