News about 5 southwest IL restaurants, including outdoor seating at a Belleville cafe
I spent part of my lunch hour one day this week on a short driving tour of Belleville, making a point of going by the McDonald’s construction site at 906 Carlyle Ave. to see the progress for the new building. I have to say, it’s really coming along. The crew was working hard, and a cement truck was in position to start pouring an entrance section of the new parking lot.
Part of the reason I made my way there was that I received a quick message from Terry Knoth of Estel Foods, Inc., letting me know that the grand opening is planned for Thursday, June 24, at 10 a.m.
The restaurant’s original building was demolished in March to make way for a new building.
Now on to other business news of the week:
Outdoor seating opens “new chapter” for Belleville café
On Monday, May 17, the Belleville City Council approved a special -use permit for outdoor dining at Joe & Onie’s: The Art of Carry-Out in downtown on East Main Street.
No time was wasted setting up the tables and chairs. I sat at one of the café’s new outdoor tables with owners Steve and Margie Hemmer and their daughter, Courtney Kemper, who are all happy with the addition.
“We’re excited to see the tables filled,” said Kemper, who is also involved with the business.
Steve Hemmer noted that as a carryout place, “it’s nice to be able to have the outdoor seating.”
It was nice. The weather was great, and as Margie Hemmer pointed out, their tables are in the shade all day.
“This is a new chapter for our business,” said Steve Hemmer. “This may spur us to go to additional hours.”
The Hemmers and Kemper were already considering extended summer hours starting in June when the City Council approved their permit application.
Steve Hemmer mentioned that the longer hours could benefit the business in the coming months as downtown special events resume. Extended hours would accommodate crowds who attend events later in the day. They’re already open in the mornings for those who arrive early to set up and work at downtown events.
Joe & Onie’s is located at 18 E. Main St. in Belleville. Hours are currently 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Saturday. For information or updates, visit Joe & Onie’s Facebook page or joeandonies.com.
Belleville craft coffee brewer announces plans to close
Kaleidoscope Craft Brew Coffee is preparing to close, according to a recent statement made on social media by owners Chris and Elizabeth Thele. In a May 10 Facebook post, the Theles described the challenges of running their own business, their successes and the obstacles that resulted in the decision to close.
“We’ve toiled over whether or not we should continue sacrificing to keep Kaleidoscope alive,” the Theles wrote. “… If our company’s launch in 2019 would be considered a story of amazing wins and great favor, then 2020 might tell a story of something quite different. And in 2021, we’ve reached a time of asking ourselves the hard questions.”
The Theles first opened Kaleidoscope Craft Brew Coffee in 2019, roasting coffee beans, brewing coffee and canning it in a leased space inside 4204 Main Street Brewing Company. The business quickly gained momentum during the first months. Then the pandemic hit.
“We were hit hard by the loss of our brewery and our ability to package our Craft Brew Coffee in can,” stated the Theles. “Add to that, our distributor partnership coming to an end, all during the initial lockdown.”
The Theles came up with new ideas to keep the business going.
“We launched our fresh roasted beans in place of our canned brews, we hired an amazing team of people completely on faith despite often not being able to pay ourselves. We committed every weekend to the Vine Street Market, which we grew to call home - as well as dozens of other markets around the region - as our brewing, canning, and distribution - our original lifeline - had come to a hard stop.”
In March, St. Louis Magazine reported that Kaleidoscope would open a storefront near Lebanon Avenue and North Illinois Street in Belleville. At the time, plans for the business were to have a walk-up service and drive-thru. New information about the status of these plans was not immediately available.
Other plans are to continue selling fresh roasted beans and remaining merchandise.
The Theles included in their statement that they “still have our roaster and lots of green coffee to work our way through. We even have a new bean waiting to launch. But shortly, these will be gone too. If you’re willing, we’d appreciate you considering our coffee for purchase, as any last sales will help us through the challenge of closing of our doors.”
Efforts to contact Kaleidoscope for comment were not successful.
Orders can still be placed with Kaleidoscope Craft Brew Coffee through the website at craftbrewcoffee.com. For additional information or updates about the business, visit facebook.com/craftbrewcoffee.
Other items of local interest
▪ Outdoor seating was also approved for 10th Street Baking Co. at the recent Belleville City Council meeting. 10th Street Baking Co. is located at 1021 W. Main St. in Belleville. For hours and information, call 618-236-3937.
▪ Chipotle, located at 2200 Troy Road in Edwardsville, is now open. Hours are 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Online ordering and catering are available. For information, call 618-307-9010 or visit chipotle.com.
▪ Twisted Biscuit Brunch Co. stated on their Facebook page that they plan to open Monday, June 14. The restaurant will serve breakfast, brunch and lunch and offer a full cocktail bar. Twisted Biscuit Brunch Co. is located at 1071 S. State Route 157 in Edwardsville. Applications are currently being accepted for full- and part-time positions. For information, visit twistedbiscuitbc.com.
This story was originally published May 23, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
