What began as a meal-prepping routine for Doug Phillips and his girlfriend, Melanie Rivera, to maintain a healthy lifestyle is now evolving into a brick-and-mortar cafe this fall.
“It was just Melanie and me meal prepping for us. Then we got our personal trainer involved, and it grew from there, from two to three to five to 15 people. We needed a bigger space because we were just cooking out of our home in Jersey,” Phillips told Whatnow Philadelphia.
After searching for the ideal location for Fresh as Duck Cafe, the duo found a space in Yardley’s former CrepeBerry storefront at 25 S. Main St.
Fresh as Duck Cafe will be a scratch kitchen serving breakfast and lunch with Mediterranean and Hispanic influences. The menu will feature sandwiches, soups and salads exclusive to the cafe.
“We really want to focus on being a modern-style cafe. We’ll be making everything in-house. We’re trying to give people really healthy, fresh and seasonally inspired options,” he said.
The cafe will also feature a grab-and-go section with prepared meals for customers seeking quick and convenient lunch options.
“It’s sometimes hard when you’re getting meal prep because you don’t know when they made the meal, who made the meal or if it was mass-produced. For us, we want to put a face to the food, ensuring freshness,” Phillips said.
The name Fresh as Duck emphasizes the cafe’s commitment to freshness while also reflecting a personal connection to Phillips.
“My baby cousin, who passed away a few years ago, couldn’t say ‘Douglas’ when she was younger; she said ‘Ducklas.’ My family then called me Duck, so I’ve been getting called that my whole life,” Phillips said. “I also grew up in the ’90s and early 2000s. Dougie Fresh was very popular, so ‘Fresh as Duck’ made sense for us.”
The cafe will highlight a mural of Yardley painted by Jaileen Nieves, Phillips’ lifelong friend and former middle and high school classmate. The mural will pay tribute to the community and serve as a thank-you for welcoming the team into the neighborhood.
“I’m excited just to be a part of the community. The town of Yardley has been amazing to us, so we want to reward them with good food and a good atmosphere. I’m excited about giving people something different,” he said.
The team is finalizing the space and plans to open in mid-to-late November.
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