A new cafe offering sweet and savory popover pastries with a focus on hospitality is now open in Downtown Apex.
Popovers Cafe, inside the Salem Street Promenade building, combines the family traditions of its owners, Mustafa and Juliette Ozturk.
Juliette, from upstate New York, grew up with her grandmother Anna Clare whipping up the egg-based batter for popovers on weekend mornings.
“It has a warm family meaning for me,” she said in an interview with The Line.
Mustafa, from Turkey, has curated a Turkish tea mix of five different tea leaves, including the iconic Rize tea. The beverage menu also includes tableside pourover coffee made with a house blend from Peak City Coffee roasters.
Together, the two have 10 children, whose names (and personalities) are reflected on the menu of popovers. The chef is the Ozturks’ second-oldest son, Landon Vrooman.
For the unfamiliar, popovers are a pastry with a crisp exterior and a custard-like interior. The original–named after Juliette’s grandmother–is delicious on its own with the house-made butter or jams. Popover fillings on the menu range from sweet, like bourbon caramel apple, to savory, like spinach, sun-dried tomato, and gruyere cheese.
Before securing the space in Downtown Apex, the Ozturks had the town in mind. “If I’m going to invest in a business, this is the area I want,” said Mustafa, who works as a Realtor.
Juliette spotted the location, formerly a women’s clothing boutique, and its exposed brick walls. The upfit to make it a cafe required installing a kitchen in what was previously a dressing room area.
Their first day open was on March 13, and Popovers Cafe will have a grand opening on Tuesday at 11 am.
They hope that the community will continue to show up and feel the spirit of hospitality they’ve brought to the space.
Find it: Popovers Cafe is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. 219 N Salem St., Suite 103, Apex