Hunger Crush Café opened in 2022 at the Waterpoint Marina on Lake Conroe, next to the long-established Fajita Jacks. The food is excellent, but there is something more happening here. Hunger Crush was established using a different concept, one that encourages patrons to connect and give back to the community.
"Hunger Crush Café is all about community," says Owner Mike Kelton. "We want people to put their phones down and talk to each other – connect. We have a table tent that says, 'No phone zone. Talk to each other. Share your lives.' I think our disagreements would go away if we just sat down and talked to each other."
Since opening, Kelton says they've continued to let their mood and menu evolve to suit their clientele's desires.
"We will be adding additional lighting, more frozen cocktail machines, and wine and mimosa flights. We've purchased a beverage cart to use for table-side, build-your-own Bloody Marys, micheladas, and mimosas," he says.
Given their lake-side location, Kelton implemented a boat-friendly menu this past summer with food items that don't require a spoon or knife.
"Breakfast boats are served in a boat-looking bowl that only requires a fork," he says. "There are 75-plus boat slips where boaters can dock and come into the café, and we want to offer them some convenient, hand-held tasty food."
They offer a special wine dinner on the last Tuesday of every month as well. "We are currently doing a Passport to Wine World. Each month, we go to a different wine country with foods and wines from that country. October will be Argentina," Kelton says.
"The first Saturday of every month is Classics & Coffee from 8-10 a.m. It's a classic car meetup," he says, where the Breakfast Hunger Board is a favorite that raises funds for the Food Bank.
The restaurant has a large community table where it's encouraged to share the Hunger Board, a meal for two on a branded charcuterie board.
"We donate 2.5 meals to the Montgomery County Food Bank for every board we sell. We also have a line on our receipts where customers can make a monetary donation to the food bank," shared Kelton.
Hunger Crush Café aims to provide a fun, friendly, family atmosphere where Kelton takes care of his customers and employees.
"We feel very strongly about supporting our community. I believe that if we are going to accept money from the community by way of doing business, then we need to give back to that community," Kelton says. "We truly love this community. Mary and I also consider our staff as part of our family, and supporting the community also means taking care of them. We always step in when our employees have needs."
Whether that means buying special baby formula for one or their staff or providing PTO for weeks after a needed surgery, the Keltons step up.
"One of our managers wanted to buy a house, so I gave her an advance on her bonus to help her with the down payment. We feed them often. We profit share when we have strong sales periods," he says. "I have staff members who have been with me from day one – one of which is a family of four. I had people help me throughout my career. It feels good to be able to pass that forward."
The Keltons also own two Sweet Paris Creperies and Cafes, one in The Woodlands and one in Austin, and The Treehouse Café in Magnolia. Stop by with an appetite and say hello.