So Crepe to open second location on Manayunk’s Main Street

This winter, Manayunk will fill a void in its stomach. So Crepe, a savory and sweet authentic French creperie, is coming to the now-vacant space at 4357 Main St. The creperie will be the only one in Manayunk after Cavo Creperie closed in 2009.

A year and a half after opening their first location at 1506 South St., owners Frederic Elmalek and Fabrice Goutte decided to take on the challenge of expanding.

Elmalek says he grew up cooking with his family and understood the importance of learning traditional recipes from previous generations. He and Goutte both hail from Lyon, France and wanted to open a restaurant in America but didn’t know what direction to go in.

That is, until Elamalek’s wife suggested they open a creperie.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

The restaurant has become popular for largely using locally-sourced and raw ingredients. 

Renovations are still underway at the new location, but the owners hope to open the restaurant toward the end of November to mid-December.

The new location’s menus will provide 80 percent of the offering available at the original location on South Street. Seasonal and specialty fare will likely make its way onto the new menu as well.

Jane Lipton, executive director of the Manayunk Development Corporation, is confident that So Crepe will add a new culinary dimension to Manayunk’s business corridor. 

“So Crepe has a proven track record for success,” says Lipton.”Now the people from the Northwest section of Philly and beyond will have the opportunity to treat themselves to these unusual and tasty dishes.”

Although there are similarities to their first location, Elmalek is also excited to be in an area with a slightly different atmosphere.

“There’s a real community of people who know each other and its something we don’t feel in every place in Philadelphia, its more personal. We feel comfortable being there.”

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal