LAKEWOOD, Ohio - Whenever Chris Murphy traveled with his husband, Joe Keppler, they'd admire the whimsical, lively crepe stands they saw along the way.

"There was always a line," Murphy recalls. "They're fun to watch being made, fun to eat. We knew they were something everyone loves."

So when they decided to take the leap into opening their first cafe, the Lakewood dwellers knew that crepes would be a focus of their menu. Coffee and antiques for sale - adding a touch of glamour, nostalgia and vintage pizzazz - fell right into place. It all comes together this summer when they open Brewella's at 16806 Madison Ave., Lakewood. Look for it to tentatively open in late July.

The 900-square-foot cafe will have table and couch seating for about 25, and serve Phoenix Coffee and a concise menu of sweet and savory crepes.

"We wanted to have that coffee-shop feel, with a little bit more energy, a little bit more color, a little more creative to give you a break from the typical mold," Murphy says.

Along with the food and drink, you can expect plenty of vintage flair throughout. The couple wants Brewella's to have an antique-shop feeling with both old-school wares and modern, local handmade goods for sale.

Want to channel the same chicness but need a burst of inspiration? Murphy and Keppler hope the staging helps visitors bring their vision to life at their own homes.

"We're getting in touch with local artists and businesses to sell in a way that isn't as predictable as consignment," Murphy says. "It's little more engaging. It's part of the decor. That way it's always moving, and every time you come in, there's something you haven't seen before. Every time you come in, it's a different experience. We get to showcase the talent in the city. It gives you the liberty to see things you might not have known how they would fit in your home, and we show you it's fun to have these wild pieces. it's good to have something you look at that makes you smile."

When it comes to their own influences, the duo didn't have to look further than their own grandmothers. Plus, a little help from stumbling upon a documentary, "Iris," on Iris Apfel.

"She's a 96-year-old fashion icon," Murphy says. "She's just this ball of color and excitement. She's eccentric, she loves jewelry, and color and fabric. We saw her and we thought, 'This is what we want.' We want your grandmother with a fashion edge. Vintage, bright, exciting. It all clicked. This is what we want to do. The minute you look at her, you're completely engaged in this woman. We said, let's try to use this as some type of muse. If we can make anything as exciting and interesting as she is, this is going to be a hit."

Don't expect everything to be so steeped in the past - rather, they want to create something timeless. To create the space, they completely transformed the former Curve Appeal consignment shop. It now has crisp, new black-and-white graphic wall, as well as a forthcoming floral mural and neon sign.

Murphy sees the location - further west on Madison Avenue than Barrio and other popular watering holes - as a chance to bring new energy to the area. With Rood Food + Pie's opening on the horizon, he expects the excitement and traffic to stay on the upswing as Brewella's etches out a name for itself.

"It's exciting to be part of something on the rise," Murphy says. "We love Lakewood - we've lived here for five years - and we're looking forward to bringing another small business to the city, and to bring crepes to this part of town. We just wanted it to be a hub for creativity and fun."