Crepe O'Clock has quietly slipped into one of Evanston's most familiar corners, taking over the former Dozika space at 601 Dempster St. The family-run Greek cafe is serving up sweet and savory crepes, traditional pastries, and house coffee in a bubblegum-pink room dressed with a mural and draped florals that look ready-made for Instagram. The shop held a soft opening on December 23, then spent the first week of January greeting a steady stream of customers as Northwestern students returned to town.
Papered Windows, Curious Neighbors
Last fall, neighbors started clocking the papered-up windows and a modest sign in the front, and an early Instagram tease hinted that a new crepe spot was on the way, according to Evanston RoundTable. That reporting also pointed out that the address had housed Dozika in a previous life, helping locals place the new venture as the family quietly built out the interior.
A Menu Built On Family Recipes
The menu leans into Mediterranean-style coffee and crepe craft while keeping things decidedly Greek with staples such as spanakopita and tiropita, and the owners say they plan to grow the lineup and roll out seasonal specials, as reported by The Daily Northwestern. The family also told the paper that Northwestern students will get a 15% discount on all offerings while they fine-tune hours and promotions.
Soft Opening, Tight-Knit Staff And What Comes Next
The cafe's online ordering portal lists the 601 Dempster address, early hours, and a growing mix of sandwiches, stuffed brioche, and Greek-inspired salads alongside its crepes, suggesting the owners are chasing all-day traffic for breakfast, lunch, and snack runs (Toast). Family members are woven into the operation, with one son juggling schoolwork with shifts at the counter and another, who runs a pharmacy in Athens, helping shape the coffee program. The staff also includes local high-schoolers, one of whom told reporters, "People complain about work, but I like to come here. They feel like family." The owners say they will keep tweaking hours, menus and promotions as Crepe O'Clock settles into its new role in Evanston's neighborhood routine.
