The Egg Cafe in Huntersville at 9525 Birkdale Crossing Dr. #101 has been sold and will reopen as Rise Cafe.
Original owners Robert and Eileen McCrary sold the business to Christina and Titus Bartolotta to focus on expanding The Crazy Pig, according to the CharlotteFive. While the McCrarys will continue to own the Egg Cafe in Davidson, the Lake Norman site will be rebranded as a Christian-influenced eatery. Rise Cafe will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 17 to mark the change, with a grand opening planned for sometime next month.
“We have this standard that everyone’s welcome here … but you’re probably going to hear some Christian music and hear some Bible verses because that’s part of who we are,” Christina Bartolotta told CharlotteFive. “For us, food’s very important, and the spiritual food is what matters, too. We want to make sure we incorporate God into everything we do.”
While the cafe will have a bit more of a religious feel, the menu will be similar to its predecessor. A few new menu items, such as bacon jam, espresso, and bottled beverages like Celsius Energy Drinks, will be added. Breakfast classics, like omelets and pancakes, will be served in the morning, followed by a handful of lunch options later in the day, including burgers, sandwiches, and salads.
“We’re going to keep the menu very close to what it was,” Bartolotta said. “Locals have been going for many years, and that’s what they like. We just really want people to feel loved and welcomed — that’s how we like to operate our lives.”
The Bartolottas have been residents on Lake Norman for over a decade, founding “The Lotta Foundation,” a local charity supporting at-risk families needing help. Both Christina and Titus studied Culinary Arts in college and have worked as chefs in the food industry for many years. Together the two will slowly make a few changes to the space, such as replacing the vent system, to continue to serve the Lake Norman delicious breakfast and lunch.
