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Amrita Malur
Handmade jewelry sits on a table in Lucky Tree Gallery & Café on Sunday. Located off of Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, NC, Lucky Tree was opened in 2015. Over 50 local artists' work is on display throughout the café which also has a completely wheat free menu, with many items suitable for vegans.
When walking into Lucky Tree, a charming coffee shop/art gallery blend, one’s attention is pulled in a million directions. Outside the door sits a drum kit made from repurposed metals and, from handmade pottery to colorfully painted canvases to jewelry, art — across mediums — fills every available space in the shop.
Mismatched chairs and unfinished wood add to the treehouse theme of the shop, only surpassed by the mannequin dangling from the ceiling in a tire swing. The spot is the very definition of an indie hangout, and its eccentric atmosphere has been attracting students since its opening.
Clearly, Lucky Tree is more than just your average coffee house. Opened in 2015 by twin sisters Amanda and Ashley Faries, Lucky Tree serves not only as a place you can get a good cup of coffee, but as a local venue for artistic expression. The store sells the work of over 50 local creators and regularly hosts events celebrating the arts — such as Free the Mic and First Friday at Lucky Tree — which give patrons and performers the chance to showcase their hidden talents.
“Lucky Tree is a creative outlet,” Ashley said. “We definitely always, from childhood, wanted to run our own business.”
A recurring theme in the cafe is reuse. Coffee filters are turned into chandeliers, picture frames become wall art and old household appliances are used to display jewelry of all kinds. Items sold also repurpose normally discarded items — like gift bows made from newspapers and figurines made from scrap metal, to name a few.
Tamani Kasawne, a second-year studying sociology at Meredith College, shared that Lucky Tree is her go-to spot to study or meet friends.
“My favorite thing about Lucky Tree is the the environment,” Kasawne said. “There are so many cool new things to look at every time I go. Also, the community is so friendly.”
Adrian Teegarden, a fourth-year studying marine sciences, emphasized the store’s welcoming community as well.
“A lot of places say they are inclusive, but the owners and workers of Lucky Tree truly make it a friendly and comfortable place,” Teegarden said. “They support local artists, but also any individual who walks through the door. I have been met with hugs and a free coffee after coming in after a rough day.”
In terms of the menu, Lucky Tree serves a variety of teas and coffees, with in-house specialties such as their fan-favorite Bulletproof Coffee — which consists of cinnamon, coconut oil, honey, butter and coffee with steamed milk. Ashley Faries noted that the store is in the process of expanding their menu.
“We have a new drink menu,” Ashley said. “We also want to get into frozen stuff, so we’re starting to formulate recipes there. We have a nut butter maker, so we’ve made, at different times, batches of cashew vanilla maple butter, but we’ll be doing more of those.”
Also served are a variety of baked goods prepared in-store, all wheat-free with many vegan-friendly options. Popular choices include banana brownies, berry cakes and melt-in-your-mouth cookie dough truffles.
“We have a high regard for things that are natural, so we try to make that show through our baked goods and our drinks,” Ashley said.
Lucky Tree also prides itself on incorporating locally sourced ingredients in its recipes, using coffee roasted in Durham and NC State’s Howling Cow milk.
“My favorite thing to order is a honey latte,” Kasawne said. “It’s good cold and hot, and I love eating a vanilla cranberry scone with it.”
“I have met many new friends by jamming, crafting and eating vegan baked goods at Lucky Tree,” Teegarden said. “Lucky Tree is basically my home away from home.”
For students who live on campus, the coffee home is just a short ride away at 3801 Hillsborough St., located on the No. 6 Carter-Finley Wolfline bus. For more information about Lucky Tree, visit their website: http://www.luckytreeraleigh.com/.