Jacob Pucci SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The lack of a full-fledged grocery store has long been a point of contention for downtown Syracuse. Epicuse hopes to change that. The grocery store/cafe hybrid, located at 334. S. Salina St., is expected to open in early October. Owners Nicole and Kevin Samolis also own SKY Armory , the wedding and event venue located in the same building . Nicole Samolis said she sees Epicuse both as a way to utilize the staff, ingredients and resources at SKY Armory and as a way to fulfill a need for those who live and work in downtown Syracuse. Epicuse will be open seven days a week—yes, there will be a food store in downtown Syracuse open on a Sunday—for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends. There will also be a bar, where a tightly-curated selection of wines, spirits and craft beers from New York and elsewhere will be served. On the grocery side of the store will be fresh produce, proteins, an expansive cheese and charcuterie selection and pantry items, such as pastas, grains, jams, sauces, oils and vinegars sourced both locally and from small-batch producers across the country. SKY Armory has two pastry chefs who will prepare pastries, quiches and other baked goods for the store. The venue also has an in-house floral designer, who will create floral arrangements that’ll be sold in Epicuse’s giftware and floral section. They’ll also carry toiletries, paper products and other essentials. “We’ll have just about everything,” Samolis said. Visitors will be able to dine in or take out. Outdoor seating along South Salina Street will be available during the warmer months. By combining the buying power of SKY Armory with Epicuse, Samolis said they’ll be able to carry a wider variety of high-quality fresh produce and other perishables than the average bodega, as well as provide a constantly-changing selection of groceries and prepared foods. Ingredients purchased for an event at SKY Armory that are left over may be used for a special at […]
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