A brother-sister team inspired by family heritage has brought a taste of Italy to East Lansing in the form of European-style coffee and sweet treats.
Nick and Mary Lemmer opened
Iorio's Gelateria in the
Trowbridge Lofts apartment complex at 1034 Trowbridge Road in September. The 1,700-square foot café provides a brightly-lit, Euro-style space to enjoy coffee prepared through one of four alternative brewing techniques, as well as a scoop of authentic, gelato made onsite.
"We're creating an experience," says Iorio's co-owner Nick Lemmer. "Lots of people have traveled and tasted gelato in Rome, or coffees in Europe. When you come here, we like to say you're walking into a little bit of Italy right here in East Lansing."
The Lemmers got their start in 2004 when Mary—then in high school—began selling Italian ice through a pushcart at festivals and local markets. Inspired by their immigrant great-grandparents who ran a general store on the East Coast, the brother and sister gradually took their business to increasing levels, opening a space in the Lansing City Market in 2009, then a store in Ann Arbor in 2011 when Nick began attending the University of Michigan.
Today, the Lemmers run the two college-town operations that focus on artisan gelato and a full-service coffee line made from single-source beans from the Zingerman's Coffee Company. Coffees are prepared through traditional as well as alternative brew methods that include pour over, AeroPress, French press and Chemex. Customers unsure of their roast or brew can literally "roll the dice" and have Iorio's pair two numbers from the dice with a coffee and brew method.
"We'll also advise you on gelato," says Lemmer. "We know people love coming in and having the same flavor sometime, but we sometimes like to encourage them to try something different, too."
Iorio's offers up to 18 flavors of gelato daily, including multiple chocolates, French or Madagascar vanilla, fresh mango and Italian favorites like Stracciatella and Sicilian pistachio. Other flavors rotate and vary by season, with current December favorites including eggnog, dark chocolate peppermint mocha and peppermint bark.
"We like being in a college atmosphere," says Lemmer. "It's exciting to be part of a new development that will spur growth in the area."
Iorio's Gelateria can seat up to 30 people indoors, and plans to open an outdoor patio for 25 come spring. The East Lansing café created 13 jobs, mostly part-time.
Source: Nick Lemmer, Co-owner, Iorio's Gelateria
Writer: Ann Kammerer, News Editor
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