The on-again, off-again coffee shop for the Arcade Building in Riverside is back on and could be open later this month.
Urban Leaf and Bean Cafe, which had pulled out of its lease for the corner space at the downtown Riverside building in January, will move into the space when the build-out is complete.
“We’re anticipating opening this month,” said Danette Massarello, one of three women who have formed a partnership to operate the coffee shop. “We’re not sure on the date yet because we’re still waiting on the build-out and equipment.”
The women signed a lease for the former Grumpy’s space at 1 Riverside Road back in November 2011, but delays in getting construction started prompted the women to terminate the lease in January.
After that, however, the women and the owner of the building, Giuseppe Zappani, met along with their lawyers and hammered out an amended lease in order to make the coffee shop a reality.
One key provision in the new lease was that Zappani would handle the build-out of the space.
“That was a big part of it,” said Massarello, a Brookfield resident. “We came to an agreement about the build-out. We hashed it all out and it ended up working out.”
It’s the first business for Massarello and her partners, Valerie and Christina Presto. A fourth partner pulled out of the venture due to work scheduling issues. But all three have had experience in the food service industry. Massarello’s mother owned McCafferty’s Pub in Lyons for 20 years.
The idea for Urban Leaf and Bean has not changed, said Massarello. It will still offer coffee made from beans roasted in small batches, hand-blended teas and smoothies, along with homemade baked goods such as muffins, cinnamon rolls, bagels and deli sandwiches.
“Most of the recipes are family ones, from generations of baking,” said Massarello. “I’ve always enjoyed it.”
Massarello said they are committed to sourcing their items locally and are trying wherever possible to use organic products.
