SOUTH BEND — Herstoric Development founder Charity Stowe is building a coffee shop and restaurant in the former Monarch Printing Building at 516 S. Michigan St. that will debut near the end of August.
Stowe and her business partner, Rachel Mospan, have put hours into transforming the building since 2023 to save and repurpose it. She felt invested in the future of the building beyond development and wanted to establish an outlet that would bring the community together. That’s where Nectar Coffeehouse + Community Table comes in, she said.
The establishment will be a coffeehouse by day, serving coffee, sandwiches and pastries, Stowe said.
But on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, it will turn into a restaurant that provides dinner options and, likely, cocktails, thanks to a Riverfront Liquor License approval recommendation from South Bend’s Municipal Riverfront License Review Committee on Friday, June 26. The recommendation will go to Mayor James Mueller for final approval.
“I just care so much about the first business that goes in and creating this community space [and] having a coffee shop for the neighborhood in the neighborhood,” Stowe said. “Obviously [it’s] for the greater South Bend, but I particularly wanted it to be open doors for the [Monroe Park] residents and make it feel like it’s an anchor for them.”
Although the dinner menu may be limited, Stowe said Nectar Coffeehouse will have a “shared dining” experience that allows friends and family to order similar dinners and pass the items around the table. The menu will be seasonal and change quarterly.
Coffee will be sold from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and dinner evenings will last from 5 to 9 p.m., Stowe said. The coffeehouse will source its coffee beans from a roaster in Indiana, although Stowe said her team hasn’t decided on a specific roaster yet.
The back portion of the building will also be used as an event space for catering opportunities once the business is settled.
“I can’t wait for this to be open for the neighborhood,” Stowe said. “I think it’s going to drive a lot more foot traffic and a lot more neighbors crossing paths.”
Email South Bend Tribune business reporter Jessica Velez at jvelez@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Coffeehouse receives favorable rec for riverfront liquor license
Reporting by Jessica Velez, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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By Jessica Velez, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
