Kool Beanz Cafe in Granite City brings people together

Kool Beanz Cafe in Granite City has been open little more than a year, but customers talk about it like an old friend.

Owner Victoria Arguelles encourages people not only to eat but to socialize, do business, view artwork, listen to music, play games, borrow books or just relax on a comfy sofa with a cup of coffee.

“I want them to come and stay, not come and go,” she said.

On a recent afternoon, homemaker Dawn Herzing was eating lunch with four girlfriends. The cafe has become their new hangout.

“It’s a great gathering place,” said Herzing, 50, of Granite City. “The food is wonderful. The coffee is great. And Vicky just makes you feel so comfortable.”

Herzing ordered one of her favorite dishes on the menu, Chicken Pesto and Mozzarella Grilled Cheese.

“The flavors are unusual,” she said. “They melt in your mouth. It’s always hot and fresh.”

Across the room, salesman Curt Desper was quietly going over paperwork for Jacob Sunroom & Exteriors.

“I pretty much rent this table,” he said, laughing. “I get more done here than if I sit in my office with all the hustle and bustle. Or at home, I’m always seeing things that need to be done.”

Desper, 53, usually goes for the Sausage and Egg Croissant for breakfast and Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap for lunch.

The Granite City resident likes to support locally owned businesses whenever possible.

“On Thursday night, they have open mike night, and I’ll come down to listen,” he said. “One night, I got up and sang Elvis because they made me.”

Arguelles was a single mother of three sons, Gabriel, Gared and Kane, when she earned an English teaching degree at McKendree University, supporting herself with odd jobs.

Most recently, Arguelles worked as purchaser for an auto parts store, but she always wanted to own a coffeehouse.

“Finally, I just gave it to God,” she said. “I said, ‘If you want me to do this, then you make it happen and everything is yours. It’s all for you.’”

Eventually, things fell into place, and Arguelles opened Kool Beanz last year in a vacant storefront at 1316 Neidringhaus.

She and her husband, Eduardo, who owns a construction business, renovated the space. They left high ceilings with exposed duct work and painted walls deep gold and rust orange.

“Everything in here is recycled or repurposed, except for the espresso machine,” Arguelles said. “So that was kind of a fun journey in itself.”

The couple converted an old wooden door into a serving counter and installed floor-to-ceiling bookshelves “rescued” from an attorney’s office.

Today, the shelves are filled with books and games donated by customers.

“You can take a book and either bring it back or share it with somebody else,” said Arguelles, who also allows a book club to meet at the cafe.

Walls are decorated with locally produced paintings and prints. “Rustic artist” John Werner displays several wood and metal pieces.

Kool Beanz serves Chaubin coffees, roasted in St. Louis, and Stash teas.

“Food was only going to be a side note in the beginning,” Arguelles said. “We were going to keep it simple. But within two months, food sales surpassed coffee sales.”

The menu includes breakfasts (gluten-free items available), salads, housemade soups, sandwiches, wraps and paninis.

Customers can sit at wrought-iron tables on the sidewalk out front, where colorful flowers overflow from planters.

“It’s a very calm, relaxing place,” said employee Marcos Gomez, 24, of Granite City. “I’m used to working in crazy bars and restaurants, so this has been an awesome change of pace.”

This story was originally published July 17, 2015 at 4:20 AM with the headline "Kool Beanz Cafe in Granite City brings people together."