Strong Hearts Café to open in Marshall Square Mall

Strong Hearts Café, one of a few vegan-only eateries in Syracuse, has announced that it will be opening a second location – and a familiar one, too.

In coming weeks, "Strong Hearts On The Hill" will open for business at 720 University Ave. – a spot once home to the popular lunch spot, Syra-Juice.

According to an update on the café’s Facebook page, owners Nick Ryan and Joel Capolongo are long-time friends of Syra-Juice’s former owner, Leah Davis a.k.a. Leah Race. They wrote that when Davis was searching for other businesses to take over her space, they “jumped at the chance.”

“Having been customers of hers for years, we knew what an incredible location that was for a business,” they wrote. “After some soul searching and business planning, we made the move and acquired Syra-Juice."

Syra-Juice was seized earlier this year for not paying taxes. Their menu featured items for meat-lovers, vegetarians and vegans, alike, like fresh burritos and salads, daily lemonade specials and homemade soups.

Strong Hearts Café, located at 719 E. Genesee St., is a vegan-friendly café, known for its milkshakes and cupcakes. Strong Hearts Café recently won the Syracuse New Times "Best of Syracuse" for a veggie/vegan dish and best cupcake.

The owners write that there is a lot of work to do, but it is going to be done quickly. They “do not anticipate things to take very long to get up and running.”

Write the owners: “Thank you for all of the love and support you've given us over the last five and-a-half years. It means the world to us and we would not have made it this far without such incredible support from our community. Strong hearts to the front!”