It’s a common occurrence for the average New Yorker to befriend their local deli guy, but it's not everyday when a cafe owner in Crown Heights will leave you in charge of the shop while she runs to the bank.
When Cynthia Francillon, a Brooklyn and Los Angeles-based writer, shared a funny experience she had at Earth Shine cafe on social media in September, it immediately went viral.
The post on X, formerly known as Twitter, which garnered 7.6 million views and 244,000 likes, detailed Francillon’s experience with Maryse Felix, the owner of the small cafe that’s a stone’s throw from the Brooklyn Museum at 789 Washington Ave.
Francillon was enjoying her time at the cafe when Felix asked her to mind the store so she could drive to the bank. The writer joked about her sudden foray as a shift manager, which lasted about an hour and half. Eventually, Felix returned with her two sisters, and the group talked about the importance of traveling.
“At first I was nervous. I was hoping nobody would come in but afterward, it just felt very nice,” said Francillon, a frequent patron who loves the cafe's quaint and homey atmosphere.
Felix opened the shop back in 2021, the inspiration originally coming from the herbal tonic drinks she makes that started as a side gig for friends, families and locals in 2019.
Felix got her start in the culinary world with Kombit, a beloved Haitian restaurant in Prospect Heights that was run by her family. Though Kombit is no longer open, Felix remains passionate about creating Haitian-influenced meals at Earth Shine.
“Once we eat things coming from the ground, it shines inside of us,” Felix said.
She eats the same way she did back in Haiti; different meals but through what she called a "curriculum of menu."
“In Haiti, on Monday, we usually eat maybe millet. On Tuesday, we might have soup or might have bouillon,” explained Felix.
Each day she creates a special dish, alongside a vegetarian menu option.
“Every time she makes something, I enjoy a whole lot of it,” Francillon said. “But one of the things that really took me by surprise was a sardine sandwich.”
Felix has spent multiple moments of her life traveling the world and adapting tastes from different cultures, a prominent feature you can experience in her meals.
“I would pick up something with the palette, and I remember it, and I can always do it,” she said.
After the viral post, Francillon can tell foot traffic has picked up at Earth Shine.
“There were two people that walked in. He says 'Yeah, I came here because of the Tweet.' And then Maryse is like, ‘The writer of the Tweet is right there,’” she said.
Felix wasn’t aware of the Tweet until her niece sent it to her through WhatsApp, who warned her to get ready for a boost in business. Felix has now expanded her operation to include catering services, partially in thanks to the viral post.
“It was amazing how within the vicinity, so many followers she has out of the neighborhood,” Felix said.
For Francillon, she’s glad she made the spontaneous post.
“If you're walking too fast, you may miss this, you probably won't catch it unless you look around. I think that's the fun part, and I think that's what makes it special,” she said.
