I'm pleased to be sitting in Lula Jane's this morning, eating a chocolate chip cookie, sipping on coffee and enjoying the company of a cross-section of friends.
Growing up in Waco and then coming back here to work at several different jobs has allowed me the pleasure of seeing friendly faces just about everywhere. Already, I've seen my friend Carole and a group of Waco Trib friends at Lula Jane's. That worked out well because I knew that's what this place was meant to be about and that's what I already planned to blog about today.
I love it when a plan comes together.
That's what Nancy Grayson and John Sterchi have to be thinking as well. Grayson and Sterchi have been planning this venture for a while. Back in early October, I sat down with them for a WacoFork blog and they expressed their hopes for the bakery and coffee shop. They wanted to establish a new place where people in the neighborhood as well as people who frequent downtown could come together, eat good pastries and such and generally enjoy each other's company.
They opened on Wednesday and what they hoped for seems to be taking shape so far.
For one thing, the social media community seems to have embraced it as we heard much buzz about Lula Jane's on Twitter. I was also told it was blowing up on Instagram.
The new bakery still has some features in development, including the adjacent park and garden. But it already feels like a great gathering place.
One more bite: I know someone is going to ask — probably via Facebook — where Lula Jane's is located. Here's a hint: I make all the names of restaurants links to the restaurant's listing so that the address and phone number can be accessed there. But for those who still need everything spelled out for them, Lula Jane's is on Elm Street, about two blocks north of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
