Hepburn’s recreates old Hollywood

Photos from classic Audrey Hepburn films line the walls. old Hollywood soundtrack fill the air along with the scent of coffee and desserts. Hepburn’s Crêpe and Coffee at the Village of Rochester Hills provides a casual dining experience with an old Hollywood feel.

With a background in business, banking and sales, General Manager Deanna Birg always wanted to open her own coffee shop. Her fiancé, Joe Vaglica, owner of Gateway Engineering, suggested a crêpe shop instead.

Birg took the idea as well as her love for old Hollywood films and together they built Hepburn’s.

“We want people to come and have an experience,” Birg said. “Crêpes aren’t just fast food. It’s more of an experience. It always makes my heart jump to hear Frank Sinatra or watch classic films, I knew others would appreciate it too.”

While it was originally located at 24 Mile and Van Dyke in Shelby Township, the move to the Village has brought more people, which was Birg’s goal and part of the overall experience.

In addition to the old Hollywood theme, all of the products sold at Hepburn’s are homemade. Pastry Chef Jennifer Botimer, a student at the Art Institute of Michigan, bakes all the desserts. She appreciates that Birg provides her with a creative outlet for her craft of cooking.

“She gives me leeway to bake what I want,” Botimer said. “I also really like the atmosphere. I get to meet tons of people at Hepburn’s, and most are very nice.”

According to Birg, however, what really sets Hepburn’s apart is the care put into each detail, from live music to ceramic mugs and plates.

“At Hepburn’s we put art into everything we do,” Birg said. “It’s a great place to go before a trip to the theater, or for an afternoon spent with friends. You really get quality here.”