Tucker Garage & Grocery near reopening, owners say

EASTON, Pa. — A pair of Eastonians-via-Australia say they are on the cusp of relaunching their eatery and general store in the city.

Melanie and Jason Hansche, who have resided in the city for nearly a decade, said they are almost ready to reopen Tucker Garage & Grocery, next to Kabinett Wine Bar at 125 Northampton St., which they also own.

The couple has worked to reopen Tucker for two years, following the original location at Simon Silk Mill closed on Christmas Eve 2021.

But without “fancy backers and deep pockets,” it’s a difficult task.

Now, with nearly 95% of the space built out, they’ve hit a bit of a roadblock with burst sewer pipes and a vintage air conditioner that expired in August, they said.

So they’ve reached out to the community they hope to serve with fresh produce, groceries and other essentials within walking distance of residents’ homes.

Free cake for a year

Jason Hansche said the establishment has inspections happening next week, "and all of our machinery has been installed, so to speak,"

"So we're kind of so close to the finish line, but also with summer, everyone's away," he said. "So, you know, it’s sort of a matter of trying to generate extra income, I suppose, to throw open the door to Tucker, which has been a priority for us.

“And we thought the best way to maybe get to that finish line was to help get the help of our followers, our customers, our supporters.”

They have launched an Indiegogo campaign with a goal of opening their doors by late October.

They are just a few days from the end of the campaign, and are offering rewards as appealing as free cake for a year.

Yes, that’s right, free cake. For a year.

The couple said they have cleared $40,000 in contributions, which will let them spruce up their community space, build up their grocery supply, and complete the construction of the 4,000-square-foot patio.

With just a bit more, they’ll be able to complete the installation of an exhaust hood in the kitchen.

Once they hit $55,000 to $65,000, the Hansches said, they will be able to roll out an energy-efficient and environmentally conscious air conditioning unit.

And if they hit the goal of $75,000, it would “allow us to achieve our long-held dream of a European-style rotisserie oven to roast chickens [like in Germany and France] for the grocery store and the patio in summer.”

Feel like part of the family

The couple said they didn’t want to just ask their fellow Easton residents for free handouts, so they came up some novel rewards for contributors to the cause.

“We figured the best way to do that would be offer them something like, free cake for a year, or free coffees for a year, or a dinner party for 12 people,” Hansche said.

“People should feel like there's some kind of ‘thank you’ in return for their support.”

For $50, contributors are added to the café’s VIP list. For $100, they’ll get a photo of the Hansche’s dog Hobart every month and for $250, a weekly fix of Partner’s espresso or Kusmi Tea for a year.

At $500, they are entitled to 52 slices of cake per year, whether that’s once a week, all at once, or otherwise. At $1,000 they earn that same cake privilege for themselves and a friend or loved one.

For $2,500 they get a special dinner in Kabinett’s ‘Narnia’ dining room for 12 people, and for $5,000, a patio party for 50 people, including cocktails, beer, wine and canapés.

The Hansches said they want their patrons to feel like part of the Tucker family, touching back to the old location’s vibe, but with a novel new feel to it.

“It's the same café concept through the day, but also we have this huge space," Hanche said.

"And in the nighttime, it's going to be more of a Bavarian beer hall that you can come and have a light meal and bring the kids and family along as well.”

Hanche said the sizable patio space will make for a perfect beer and wine garden.

Café by day, Bavarian beer hall by night

The new iteration of their business will be a bit more than the original Tucker, Hansche said, weaving in elements of Kabinett and their Australian roots.

Guests can expect a menu with “unique Aussie baked goods” such as lamingtons, zucchini bread, sausage rolls and salted caramel slices, plus salads and sandwiches, he said.

As for the groceries, the pair aim to offer everything someone would need on a daily shopping trip — fresh produce and fruit, milk, bread, butter, dry goods, spices, sauces, pastas, a cheese and deli cabinet, and a boutique wine store.

Hansche said the patio space will be dog-friendly, complete with a menu so pups can enjoy a snack along with humans.

Hansche said the couple looks forward to the near future when they can “invite people into our space day and night.”

“It's been lovely entertaining our close friends in the fancy restaurant up the front, but it's going to be really great to be able to welcome back the whole community," Hansche said.

"So that we can reconnect with all of those Tucker customers that we had great relationships with at the Silk Mill site.”