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A new restaurant is now open on M-26 just west of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge.
Customers lined up Monday to get their first taste of Krunch, opening for the first time in the former Hardee’s location.
“Krunch is a basic concept of a fast casual restaurant with some healthy options,” said restaurant owner Paul Gemignani, who says when he woke up yesterday morning, he wasn’t sure what to expect for the day.
“I had no idea if there was going to be four people or 400 people and it definitely exceeded my expectations,” said Gemignani.
Yesterday was opening day of Gemignani’s newest business endeavor, and gauging by the large crowd of customers in his lobby, their taste buds have been anticipating the opening as much as he has.
“The Copper Country has come out and supported us and we really appreciate it,” he added.
A positive turn out doesn’t come as a huge surprise. Gemignani and his crew have been serving the Keweenaw Peninsula for quite a while now, but Krunch has a different menu than most places.
Gemignani said, “We do offer a wide range of stuff from burgers and pork bellies, which aren’t as healthy for you, to vegan options such as grain bowls and avocado. A lot of vegan options, and then you can add your proteins if you want.”
Gemignani says the idea for this type of dinning came from within his own family. “My wife is a vegan and there are not a lot of places that she can go, so that’s one of the reasons we went after this specific food niche and I hope everyone likes it.”
Along with filling tummies, Krunch also fills a gap in commerce in Houghton. The restaurant is located in the building that was formerly occupied by Hardee’s, that operated until this past November.
