Owners of Lincoln Farmstead to open new business at the former Manny’s Gelato and Café location

HUNTLEY — At the Jan. 12 Village Board meeting, Barb and Savannah Lincoln came before trustees to present their vision for a proposed new business which they intend to name Lincoln House and Co., Wine and Coffee Bar.

As residents may recall, on Jan. 3, Manny’s Gelato and Café owner Manny Stier announced via the café’s Facebook page that he would be closing his establishment for business on Jan. 15.

Deputy Village Manager Lisa Armour told trustees during the Jan. 12 meeting that Chris and Barb Lincoln, owners of the Lincoln Farmstead (8401 IL-47, Huntley), are contracted purchasers of the building that housed Manny’s Gelato and Café (11808 Main Street).

Armour continued in explaining that the building will require some interior renovations, with the Lincoln family also proposing to add some modifications to the exterior portion of the building.

The proposed improvements are likely to qualify for financial assistance through the Façade Improvement Program and the Small Business Assistance Program that the village established, added Armour.

Following Armour’s brief presentation, Barb and Savannah went into further detail as to what their new business would look like.

“Essentially our vision is that we would just like to be the new coffee spot. The new little café in the Square. To do that, we want to offer kind of a similar menu, I guess, to what Manny kind of [had], but a little bit different,” Savannah told trustees. “[We want] more focus on that café aspect and then branching out even further with the wine offering.”

Savannah further told trustees that they want to be different than other coffee places in town like Starbucks and Dunkin’. However, she also added that they don’t want to be a late-night drinking spot either.

“[We want to be] more than just coffee. So, things like our charcuterie boards or hummus plates that kind of pair well with these wines that we don’t really have in the Square, and that’s not to say I don’t love our bar offerings that we have, our pizza places, all of that,” she said. “We want you to be able to come in and have your workspace, your afternoon early dinner time, but then by eight o’clock weekdays [and] nine o’clock weekends hits, we’re kind of done so you can go to your second destination if you want, or you can head on home, but we don’t want to be that late night spot.”

Besides offering coffee, wine, and some food options, the Lincolns plan on having menu items that are friendly for those with dietary restrictions, including gluten-free and vegan options to choose from.

Barb finished off the presentation by stating that a huge factor that contributed to their interest in opening a new business had to do with all the new apartment buildings being built in the village, which she believes will direct a good number of customers to the coffee shop.

Seeing as the plans are conceptual at the moment, the only action trustees were required to take that night, was to provide feedback.

“Very excited to not have a vacant spot. So, appreciate you guys stepping up and filling that and this is something that just being a member of the community, I feel we’ve needed something like this. So, excited to see something different,” Trustee Curt Kittle told the petitioners.

Kittle followed up his statement by asking them if they had a time frame from when they expect construction to start to when they plan to open for business.

The petitioners responded that they expect to close on the building on Feb. 1, and are anticipating renovations to last anywhere from three to four months. They hope to open for business either in May or early June.

Trustees Harry Leopold, Niko Kanakaris, and Mary Holzkopf all echoed Kittle’s positive comments regarding the new business, with Holzkopf only asking about their hours of operation.

Savannah told the board that they plan to be open on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and stay open on Fridays and Saturdays until 9 p.m.

Trustee JR Westberg asked the Lincolns if they would be asking the board for an outdoor liquor license seeing as Savannah teaches a yoga and wine class at the Lincoln Farmstead.

Savannah stated that they do not own the courtyard outside of the building just yet, but are not opposed to looking further into the idea once their plans become more finalized.

“I’m excited that you’re coming because you’re adding to the charm of the Square and the fact that we have a tea shop and now we have this, perfect. That’s the way I look at it,” said Trustee Ronda Goldman.