Jennifer Barber
Josh and Omy Kent, who plan to offer treats for people no matter what their dietary or allergy needs are.A new, health-conscious cafe will be coming to East Lansing with gelatos and desserts for vegans, diabetics, those with dietary restrictions and everyone else.
The Meltdown is a gelato and dessert cafe opening at 309 E. Grand River Ave. between Tin Can and Curious Book Shop. The menu will feature 40 flavors of dairy-free gelatos, Italian sodas and desserts, coffees and teas.
The married owners, Omy and Josh Kent, planned to start up their own gelato place after working with Iorio Gelato in Lansing. Josh Kent had created flavors for Iorio but left to pursue his dream of opening up his own gelato shop.
“We’re hoping to be a gelato shop and cafe that is able to offer desserts to pretty much anyone, despite any sort of food allergy or dietary restriction,” said Josh Kent.
Josh Kent said food allergies put his sister, who is allergic to almost everything, into the hospital, and that inspired him to start a shop with healthy options for everyone.
“Vegans and people on diets are always searching for some kind of option that they can have in order to enjoy desserts, and we want to make that available for them,” said Omy Kent.
The property used to be a bank office, so many steps have been necessary to convert the building into a proper cafe and ice cream shop.
The Kents say they hope to open in May or June.
“Everyone loves dessert,” said Josh Kent. “There’s already ice cream places that are flourishing around here, and there’s no one that actually offers a gelato, especially not a Sicilian style and nothing with the dietary restrictions. Anyone should be able to eat dessert at our place.”