From Pasta to Possibility: The Origins of The Local Epicurean EL

As we continued to grow For Crêpe Sake and Brown Butter, our trips back and forth to Grand Rapids became more frequent. And on nearly every visit, we found ourselves stopping in next door—to a charming little shop called The Local Epicurean.

We’d pick up fresh pasta, take-and-bake dinners to feed the family or a unique bottle of wine. But over time, it became more than just a convenient stop. We started talking more with Steve and Ryan, the founders and owners of The Local Epicurean and learning the story behind what they had built.

From its humble beginnings as a small pasta shop in downtown Grand Rapids, The Local Epicurean had grown into something truly special. They expanded into what is now the Brown Butter building, hosting weekly pasta-making classes, before eventually moving into their current location—complete with a full pasta production kitchen, a beautiful retail market, curated wine and daily hands-on classes featuring a variety of three-course menus.

As we got to know Steve and Ryan, our conversations naturally began to shift. We talked about business. About hospitality. About the future—their vision, our vision and how those paths might one day intersect.

Eventually, that intersection came into focus.

We agreed to open the first—and to date, only—franchise location of The Local Epicurean in East Lansing. We signed the agreement in 2024, and began our search for the ideal location. We weren’t just replicating what existed—we were reimagining it for the future. We designed a business that would bring the best of the Grand Rapids location to East Lansing, while also incorporating new ideas and improvements inspired by our own experience and vision.

And with that, The 601 Group began to take shape—not just as a couple of local restaurants, but as a growing collection of unique hospitality businesses. Businesses rooted in experience. In community. In connection.

This is still just the beginning.

But the foundation has been laid—and the vision is clear:

To build something great and enduring, one moment at a time.