Fresh Flavors

After a successful few months of soft opening, Leaf & Press plans to expand its hours and offerings within the next few weeks.

Owner Allan Jimenez moved to Wilmington in May of last year to open Astro Dogs, which serves Korean corn dogs in the Cargo District, and has seen enough success with that venture that he felt another would do well.

A Greensboro resident since 2017, Jimenez started the first Astro Dogs as a food truck in that area in 2023 before opening its first permanent location in Wilmington.

“Astro Dogs has been so well received here that I saw the opportunity to open another spot in the area,” he said. “There’s nothing really that offers a healthier alternative, so I thought Leaf & Press would be a good option.”

As the owner of both Astro Dogs and Leaf & Press, Jimenez said he emphasizes the value of balancing healthy with flavorful offerings.

“You have to enjoy what you eat,” Jimenez said. “It’s good to have a balance and not always be eating healthy or always be eating corn dogs. There’s room for both.”

The menu at Leaf & Press, 615 S. 15th St., includes items such as a chicken Caesar salad; a turkey pesto panini; and a fig, prosciutto and goat cheese panini. While Leaf & Press served four salads and four panini options throughout its soft opening months, the plan is to consistently offer six of each on the standard menu, with weekly specials.

“We want to make people come back again and again, so it’s like, ‘In two weeks I know this salad is coming out and I want to go try it,’” Jimenez said.

He and his business partner, his sister Crystal, also intend to foster a wellness community in the area that partners with other businesses to host yoga classes, run clubs and host other activities.

“We want it to be more than just a spot to eat,” Jimenez said. “I grew up in Mexico City and saw a lot of street food, and I always liked the idea of making memories through food. When everything came about with the businesses that I’ve been creating, that was a goal: I don’t want it to just be food; I want it to be more of an experience.”

Jimenez said he has especially enjoyed the opportunity to launch these two businesses in Wilmington and serve both the local community and tourists. “It’s always bringing new people in,” he said. “That’s what I’ve always wanted to see, having people come in, and they can tell you how this was their favorite part of their trip or that they made it a point to try you when they travelled in that week. That’s what I always saw in Wilmington, that it’s a destination.”

Referring to Wilmington residents, Jimenez emphasized a desire for his restaurant to be a place where people gather and connect. “We really do want it to be more of a community,” he said. “We want to hear from people who try us out so that we can continually develop and be what people are looking for.”

For more information on Leaf & Press, follow their Instagram @leaf.press.