Tucked away in South Lamar, the smell of chocolate, butter and fresh crepes burst from Crêpe Crazy. Now, the staple of the local food scene will bring their crepes beyond Texas.
“We take pride in passing along our business to deaf owners and giving them an opportunity to show that deaf people can do anything,” Crêpe Crazy COO Michelle Giterman signs.
Crêpe Crazy will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Austin location this December. In that decade, the shop has fostered a loyal customer base, and these days, visiting during the weekend brunch rush tables prove a hot commodity.
A decade of community and crepes
In February, Crêpe Crazy announced the launch of their St. Augustine, Florida food truck. This comes as the second out of Texas expansion after the 2020 opening of a Baltimore, Maryland shop. All additional locations are passed to other deaf owners. Kami Padden, the owner of Crêpe Crazy St. Augustine, said partnering with a deaf-owned business is deeply personal and empowering.
“Being able to communicate directly in (American Sign Language) creates a connection that just can’t be replicated through interpreters—even though interpreters are a wonderful accessibility tool,” Padden writes. “That direct communication, Deaf to Deaf, is powerful. It fosters community, trust and a shared understanding that’s at the heart of what we do.”
Crêpe Crazy founders Vladimir and Inna Giterman began selling crepes at food festivals, and in 2014, opened their first brick-and-mortar store in Dripping Springs. A year later, the South Lamar location brought the magic to Austin. As time went on, the family-owned business became more than just a restaurant, but a community.
“I couldn’t say how many people we’ve taught to sign simple things like ‘water,’ ‘please,’ ‘thank you,’” Michelle signs. “In Austin, we’re well known for having a diverse and deaf friendly community. That’s definitely part of our big impact in that area. Communication is never an issue.”
Family-run and community-focused
Since its founding in 1859, Austin has been the home to the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD). The school draws families to the city, and many students choose to remain after graduation. Along with the robust signed languages program at the University of Texas, the Deaf community is deeply integrated into the culture of Austin. In years past, Crêpe Crazy opened internships for students at TSD to get a feel for the restaurant industry. The shop also welcomes hearing individuals to practice their ASL.
“It was really nice to see the young customers go away and actually become interpreters and become part of our Deaf world,” Michelle said. “Of course, we have a lot of repeat customers that come through the restaurant. Some actually sign, and their communication skills become better.”
After immigrating to Brooklyn in 1996, the Giterman family later settled in Austin. Michelle remarks that every member of the family has a different skill set, which comes in handy for their business: her mother, Inna, creates the menu; her father, Vladimir, covers festivals; her brother, Sergei, handles finances; and she manages other aspects of business administration. Now, Michelle’s daughter, on occasion, tags along to the shop.
“I really love being with my family and being home,” Michelle signs. “It speaks the language in my heart.”
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