GALION — A new business in the heart of downtown is brewing up some specialty beverages for customers craving a morning pick-me-up.
The Willow Coffee Shop, 125 Harding Way East, is now open at the site of the former Candi Bar. Jared and Jessica Thew, who also own the East of Chicago Pizza in town, purchased the business Jan. 1.
“We’ve always enjoyed visiting coffee shops and we love the sense of community and connection they create,” said Jessica Thew, who just finished painting and remodeling the business’s interior. “That was the goal when we started.”
Although a grand opening isn’t planned until sometime in March, the coffee shop is under a soft opening, offering fresh brewed coffee, lattes, frappes, espresso drinks, hot chocolate and a variety of teas, along with muffins, bagels and cinnamon rolls.
On Tuesday, the Willow Coffee Shop whips up a signature mocha bar in house, Thew said, which is topped with a chocolate ganache. Homemade brownies will also be available on certain days of the week, she said.
“Really, our vision is centered around the coffee aspect of it, but we wanted to provide a light bite for the people who come in in the morning,” she said. “It really was geared toward meeting all those aspects when we decided to put it together.”
The coffee shop is decorated in warm, light colors with emerald green accents, which complement the building’s exterior. Comfortable couches, tables and chairs allow those who want to work the perfect space, she said, while hooking up to free Wi-Fi.
The Thews are developing a website for the Willow Coffee Shop, which is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. A rear entrance with additional parking is also available in the back.
