OmTurtleCafe now open in downtown Ferguson

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Courtesy OmTurtleCafe

Italian Caprese Stuffed Avocado - with mozzarella pearls, grape tomatoes, basil, pepperoni, olive oil and balsamic glaze

Nearly five years ago, OMTurtleYoga & Spa owner Angie Carron decided to open a second yoga studio location, in downtown Ferguson. She wanted to “create a place of peace, a community, as we had in Florissant," she says.

She recently expanded the business, adding a restaurant component, OmTurtleCafe, which serves breakfast and lunch. The menu emphasizes healthy options and fresh baked goods. There are toasted bagel sandwiches, frittatas, salads, soups, stuffed avocados, shareable dishes, scones and other fresh baked pastries, and healthy drink options.

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Courtesy OmTurtleCafe

Chunky Monkey Muffin - with bananas, walnuts, and chocolate chips

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Courtesy OmTurtleCafe

Nuts & Berries - multigrain bagel topped with chunky peanut butter or Nutella, blueberries, and strawberries. The cafe's bagels are delivered daily from the Bronx.

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Courtesy OmTurtleCafe

Roast Beef - thinly sliced warmed top round with bits of red onion, garlic aioli, and five Italian cheeses on a toasted everything bagel.

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Courtesy OmTurtleCafe

Courtesy OmTurtleCafe

Carron has refined some of the recipes through trial and error. The scone recipe, for instance, was a happy accident. “One day I made scones, and I totally messed up the recipe," she recalls. Nonetheless, "when the scones came out, they were wonderful." The texture of the bacon, egg, and cheese scone (pictured at right) resembles cornbread, with crispy edges, perfect to break off and nibble.

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Courtesy OmTurtleCafe

Courtesy OmTurtleCafe

Elderberry Sangria

A creative array of smoothies, which Carron refers to as elixirs, are composed entirely of organic ingredients. There are also juices and flavored waters. Kaldi’s coffee, Firepot teas, sangria, and Tractor Beverage Company organic sodas round out the beverage options.

The menu of fresh options has resonated with yoga students. “I like to eat on the healthy side," says David Armstrong, one longtime yoga student. "Before the café opened, I didn’t have a place to eat good, healthful foods." He now frequently orders The Tropical Turtle smoothie and looks forward to the company at the café and yoga studio.

“I believe in what Angie is doing, in Ferguson and in Florissant," he says. "She’s created a healing place for people and for the community.”

It's a mission that Carron's keeps in mind while hiring. “Each person on my team has to believe in the power of community," she says. "The people don’t simply work for me; they work for the community gathered here."

Photo by Pat Eby

The atmosphere reflects the same sentiment. The café houses an urban market with goods made by local artists and artisans. “Everything in the store has a story,” Carron says. “The young woman who knits the slouch beanies, neck warmers, and scarves is a cancer survivor who first knitted the hats to cover the hair loss caused by her treatments.”

Plant hangers, jewelry, and gifts empower a group of women refugees from the Under the Same Tree cooperative. Art on the walls showcases the work of local artists. Carron sells her own locally made all-natural soaps, lotions, and balms.

Books also line some of the shelves. “People come in to read or to look for a book from our designated book share," she says. "We ask that you leave a book to take a book, but there’s no library police here."

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Photo by Pat Eby

Photo by Pat Eby

A children’s area features a toy kitchen and children's books. “I call it Allison’s Corner," says Carron. "The daughter of one of my good friends passed away when she was just 16. Her mother dropped off Allison’s toys and books here. That girl was in my heart.

"Everything inside the café is recycled, repurposed, or reused," adds Carron. "Taking something broken, making it new again, refreshing it—it’s what we do."

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Photo by Pat Eby

Owner Angie Carron

Editor's Note: This story has been updated from an earlier version.