Columbia, IL — The former Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and convent in Columbia, Illinois has a new life and name, Main Street Abbey.
Dustin Row, Venue Manager, said, "We're breathing another 150 years into this property. Who knows what could happen with a bunch of ground that's left to the wayside. We're really pumped to come in here and revitalize this thing."
A hair salon, cafe, and lofts are already up and running inside the former convent. Cafe on the Abbey has been busy every since doors opened in February.
Daniel Ball, Co-Owner of Cafe on the Abbey, said, "Our logo is a nun drinking a cup of coffee. We do have artwork behind it. We're trying to be playful and respectful in all ways to the church.'
Cafe on the Abbey is serving breakfast, lunch, and dessert.
"This is Blessed Lemon Blueberry Cake made in house, then we have Heaven on a Plate, a coconut cream cake."
Eventually, they plan to offer fine dining on Friday and Saturday nights.
Bal said, "When we do go to nighttime, we'll do prime rib sword fish salmon those types of items."
The next space will be opening at Main Street Abbey on Thursday. This former church is now an event venue. The back bar uses the priest's old furniture and the bathrooms are made to look like mini confessionals. 20 weddings and 6 events have already been booked.
"When you walk in here, you're going to see a beautiful, bare archaic looking church from the 1860s but we've put $74,000 worth of technology in there. Even though you have really historic looking room, it will be one of the trendiest spots in all of St. Louis," said Row.
And in 2019, construction is expected to start to turn the school on the property into a bed and breakfast and micro-brewery.
"Somebody made a Facebook comment once that said, and I stole it with permission, it said, 'Where old memories are here to stay and new ones are waiting to be made,'" said Row.
The church moved to a new location in Columbia and the school will move to its new home in December.
mainstreetabbey.com
facebook.com/cafeontheabbey
322 South Main Street
(618) 281-4554
