Brooklyn Cafe, 706 N. Fourth St. in the Brooklyn Arts District in downtown Wilmington, is expanding to include a market, just in time for its second anniversary.
 
“We’ll be focusing on fresh local produce and some staple items,” said Tara English, who operates the cafe and market with her parents, Marilyn and Rodney Robbins; brother, Justin Robbins; cousin, Brenda Davis; and son, Aaron English. “We want to provide seasonal fruits and vegetables to those who live on the Northside and may not have access to local produce.”
 
Local produce will be sourced through Feast Down East, and the market will offer fresh eggs from Brunswick County and cheeses from Ashe County, as well as bread, pasta, dips and sauces.
 
The family-run business serves up freshly ground Java Estate coffee along with homemade beignets, old-fashioned doughnuts and kolache – a Czech pastry prepared with jalapenos and cheddar or fruit toppings.

Everything is made from scratch using family recipes, including those recently developed by Aaron English. As a vegan, he was eager to develop vegan recipes for doughnuts and beignets that would be as satisfying as the originals.
 
In addition to coffee and pastries, Brooklyn cafe offers Panacea Brewing Co. kombucha, mimosas and wine and beer for on- and off-site consumption.
 
On Saturday, Brooklyn Cafe will host a grand opening celebration for the market in conjunction with its second anniversary. There will be live music throughout the afternoon, as well as raffles and giveaways.
 
Brooklyn Cafe and Market is open 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

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