VERMILION — A new chapter is underway at Woodstock Cafe, where Vermilion siblings Jonathan and Haley Bellis have taken the lead at the longtime Main Street business, a family-backed venture entering its next chapter in downtown Vermilion.
After years under previous owner Jim Lowder, Woodstock Cafe remains a familiar part of the city’s lakefront business district. Now, the Bellis family is carrying it forward in a seasonal town where keeping a business active year-round brings its own challenges.
The transition, finalized in late September, gave the siblings an immediate introduction to that reality.
“It hasn’t been all that long,” Jonathan said, noting the timing meant stepping in just as the slower winter months arrived. The offseason gave them a chance to learn the operation, settle in with staff and prepare for the busier months ahead.
The Bellises bring a clear love for music, community and the kind of place where people can settle in over a cup of coffee, lunch or a beer.
Earlier mornings, in-house roasted coffee
One of the biggest changes under the new leadership is earlier hours. Woodstock Cafe now opens at 7 a.m., offering coffee and pastries for the morning crowd instead of waiting until 11 a.m.
Coffee is a major focus for the new leadership. Jonathan roasts beans in-house, reflecting the hands-on approach he and Haley are bringing to the business.
“I roast the coffee here,” Jonathan said. “It’s as close to direct trade as I can get.”
Jonathan said that means putting extra care into sourcing quality beans and roasting them in-house, with an emphasis on quality from sourcing to roasting.
The cafe’s coffee menu includes drinks like the Woodstock Breve, Moonbear Mocha, Sunshine Daydream latte and Terrapin Turtle Latte, along with classics such as espresso, cappuccino, cold brew and pour-over coffee.
Pastries are available in the morning, including some baked items made by the siblings’ mother. The Bellises said they may expand light breakfast offerings in the future.
Food, craft beer and music
At 11 a.m., Woodstock Cafe shifts into lunch service.
The menu includes thin, stone-fired pizzas, sandwiches, salads and shareable items like bruschetta and hummus platters. Panini-style sandwiches, sub sandwiches and a kids menu are also available.
Craft beer is another part of the mix, helping shape the relaxed, stay-awhile atmosphere the siblings want to create.
Music remains central to that identity.
“It’s the whole theme of the place,” Jonathan said. “We’re huge into music.”
Live music is set to return in a more regular way this season. The first Third Thursday performance on May 21 will kick off the cafe’s live music season, which will also feature local bands every Friday evening beginning in May.
The Bellises are working to expand those offerings, particularly on the patio, bringing back something that had previously been a staple of the location.
Inside, playlists and decor help carry that identity, blending classic influences with newer sounds.
Learning the rhythm of the seasons
Taking over just before winter meant slower months were expected.
“I didn’t know how January would feel,” Jonathan said, adding that February turned out better than expected, helped in part by events like the Ice Affair and a strong Valentine’s Day weekend.
By March, business had started to pick up.
“It picked up pretty noticeably,” Haley said.
With that in mind, the Bellises have already started hiring and training staff ahead of the summer rush.
“We just want everybody ready,” Haley said.
Looking ahead
Woodstock Cafe is located at 665 Main St. in Vermilion.
The cafe is closed Mondays. It opens at 7 a.m. for coffee service, begins lunch service at 11 a.m. and stays open later in the week, especially Thursday through Saturday.
For Jonathan and Haley, the goal is not to reinvent Woodstock Cafe, but to build on what has worked while bringing fresh energy to a place many Vermilion residents already know.
With warmer weather approaching and plans for more live music, they are preparing for their first full busy season at the helm.
