Kafe Buzz moves to theater

Published 4:42 pm Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Kafe Buzz will open its doors in a new location Monday morning: the Marengo Theater. Kafe Buzz owner Laura Clements and theater owner Dr. Erik Lessmann have been working together to merge the businesses in the downtown location.

The front room of the theater has been renovated with new lighting, fresh paint, new tables and chairs and a bar area to accommodate the coffee and ice cream shop. The menu will consist of the same coffees and espresso drinks currently offered, and an addition of 20 Blue Bell ice cream flavors will be added in order to form “Doc’s Ice Cream.”

Clements expressed enthusiasm over the decision to move.

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“We miss the quaintness of [being located] downtown,” Clements said. “We also want to promote the theater, and Dr. Lessmann has great plans for updating it.”

Movie-goers will be able to purchase Kafe Buzz and Doc’s Ice Cream products before and during movie showings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Kafe Buzz will also be open from 7 to 11 a.m. on weekdays.

“This will help revitalize downtown,” Lessmann said. “We’ve got the police station closeby, we’ve got the library right there. It’s a nice little enclave. The more activity we can bring down here, the better.”

Clements will keep the Highway 80 location open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. until her entire stock of gift items is liquidated and sold. She has decided not to continue the gift shop portion of her business in the new location.

“The coffee shop is what’s doing best in this day and time,” Clements said. “People aren’t spending as much money on products, but they still buy food and drinks.”

Kafe Buzz will also offer a simplified “pick-up” version of the current lunch menu. In addition to Kafe Buzz services, Clements will offer private voice lessons in a practice room in the theater, and plans are in the works to host vocal concerts in the theater, which is on schedule to be renovated by Lessmann.