Velvet Peach Cafe Gets Liquor License, Closed for Renovations Until April 8

Velvet Peach Cafe, on Flatbush Avenue near Seventh, is going through its second metamorphosis in as many years. Formerly known as Heights Coffee, which opened in 2005, it closed for about a month last year and re-opened as Velvet Peach, focused more on being a full-service restaurant than cafe. They built out a full kitchen and launched a menu with more sandwiches and entrees as well as brunch.

Yesterday I saw that the restaurant, which has been trying hard to bridge the coffee shop/restaurant divide, was shuttered, and a sign on their window mentioned a new ownership team and a new strategy in the works that "will feature a diverse variety of American beers, wines and spirits alongside an American fare menu with a Southern influence."

When I reached out to owner Erica Phillips, she let me know that "he last few months allowed us to test the water and engage customers about what they like and want more of from Velvet Peach," and that they're "taking the business to the next phase" due to being recently granted a full liquor license. The space will be thoroughly renovated, and will debut in April with "a new look, a new menu, and signature cocktails."

Comments

[ParkPlace]

Renovation would be smart. The place needs to physically look different from the dreck that was Heights Coffee.

The jumbo muffins they've been pushing as their trademark are actually very good and, even when the coffee was lousy, the homemade baked goods were, minimum, decent. There's potential here, but it's got a lot to overcome.

[sterling]

I hope the renovation includes a name change and new signage.

[Bercar]

Anotherr renovation? It seems the owner must have a lot of money to burn and delusional at the sametime. Why would she took a perfect neighborhood gem, Heights Coffee and turned it into a faux restaurant. Bizzare is the only word I have to describe their behavior.