SPRINGFIELD – Not even a month has passed since UGLY has closed, but a new business is already renovating to take up the space with a domestic brunch spot.
Meet Irfan and Dia Djaferi, the husband-wife duo who plan on opening Bespoke Cafe and Kitchen at 2312 Wabash Ave., an American diner experience that’ll have something for all ages, Irfan said.
“We’ve been looking for a business opportunity focusing more on the west side,” Djaferi said. “Because on the east side there’s already a bunch of restaurants like this and this side of the town needed more traditional food made right.”
The duo plan on a general opening around mid to late May once renovations are completed to turn the interior from a Turkish restaurant into an industrial diner.
While the Djaferi’s have previously owned a trucking business and work with Enterprise in Springfield, this will be the couple’s first brick-and-mortar restaurant.
Irfan has experience in the past working at a local restaurant in Iowa, while his wife Dia is associated with Fairgrounds Cafe, which her brother, Neti Nuhiji, has worked as a chef at. Nuhiji will be joining the rest of the family as the head cook at Bespoke, serving omelets, potato hash and other classics.
The family plans on differentiating from other brunch spots by having a modern industrial design similar to the look of Cafe Moxo, outfitting walls with stainless steel and a greenery fake plant wall and pairing that modern setting with classic comfort meals.
For Nuhiji, if it’s one thing he knows brunch spots can serve the same mains, but it’s the preparation and presentation that shines through.
“Like everybody else the way we’re doing it is having a different built menu from others,” Nuhiji said. “You have Fairgrounds Cafe, you have IHOP; I mean an egg is an egg it just depends on how you do it.”
Another main focus of the business model will be tapping into coffee culture, hiring a barista to serve higher end coffee, including drip, lattes, espresso and other drinks.
“We’re bringing premium coffee, the brand is Lavazza and we are the only brand in Springfield with exclusive rights now to serve,” Djaferi said. “We’re going to serve it on a China glass for people who will be dining in.”
Bespoke will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week with a drive through pick up window. Orders can be made online to the website.
Djaferi did not comment if he was subleasing from Ersen and Tuba Yildirim, who announced the hard decision to close their restaurant UGLY restaurant and bar in a social media post on March 11, shutting their authentic Turkish restaurant on March 31.
“Whenever he decided that he wanted to sell the business to move onto something else he reached out to me directly,” Djaferi said. “That’s where we got the deal, we agreed on purchasing the business and equipment and whatever he had in a bulk sale deal.”
Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for The State Journal-Register. She can be reached at CLGrant@usatodayco.com; and on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: New breakfast, brunch place opening in Springfield
Reporting by Claire Grant, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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