Not many new businesses in town have sparked the interest that Historia Coffee House has, so Monee residents are feeling the excitement.
Historia, 5430 W. Main Street, is owned by Joe and Sarah Dascenzo, founders of Second Place Church, which also calls the village home. The coffee shop is associated with Pastor Dave Short and is located adjacent to the Provision Market.
They describe it as “part of a community-focused project alongside the Provision Market.”
The Grand Opening is scheduled for noon on Saturday, May 2, and will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring comments from Mayor Therese Bogs, Dave Short, Joe Dascenzo, project manager Danielle Kowalewski, and cafe manager Jeremiah Dascenzo.
“It will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring words from Mayor Bogs, Dave Short, Joe Dascenzo, project manager Danielle Kowalewski, and myself. We will highlight the full opening of the building for both Provision Market and Historia and have some outdoor activities such as a coloring contest, face painting, and bags,” said Jeremiah Dascenzo.
Hours will be Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Saturday, from 7a.m. to 5p.m. The cafe will be closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.
“Our initial menu includes a variety of beverages, from a simple black cup of coffee, to specialty espresso lattes, to custom tea and herbal refresher blends,” Dascenzo said.
“In addition to our drinks, we will offer pastries from Pearson’s Bakery and bagels from Steingold’s Bakery. Our bagels also serve as the foundation for what we’re calling ‘Bagel Sandwiches’ – open-faced bagels with a variety of topping options.”
Dascenzo said the Historia project began in 2017 as a way to elevate the coffee offered on Sunday mornings at Second Place Church.
“Since we first began serving coffee on Sundays, the dream has always been to have a brick and mortar shop that offers quality coffee and a welcoming environment throughout the week to the community,” he said.
“Historia is now a local coffee house – creating best-in-class coffee and one-of-a-kind experiences so people have a place where they feel at home. We feel there is a need for the Monee community to have a place where people from every walk of life can experience how valuable they are and the unique part they play in the grander story.
“From the beginning, Historia was about creating an experience for people that makes them feel at home,” he added.
“Initially, this was run by a team of volunteers and quickly grew to be a group dedicated to innovating new drinks, creating a welcoming and cozy atmosphere, with positive and meaningful interactions at the center of everything we did.
“Second Place Church purchased the building on Oak and Main at the end of 2021, with the dream to open up a brick and mortar coffee shop and client choice food pantry in the same building. Due to the food pantry’s more immediate need, their half was renovated first, and renovations on Historia’s side properly began in 2024.
“The name Historia is actually Latin for ‘Story’ or ‘History’. We found this name years ago when Historia was just what we called our Sunday morning coffee bar at Second Place Church. The name signifies our belief we are all part of a story that is bigger than ourselves. It also has taken on new meaning as Historia Coffee House now exists in a building from 1885 that has a long history in Monee. We are joining the story of this building – honoring the past of what it was, while renovating and updating the space to serve the needs of the current community.
“Of course, we want to be known for serving excellent products,” he added, “but more than that, we hope people come to know Historia as a place to gather and connect. The design of the space is intentionally eclectic, with a mixture of seating styles and function, making room for the remote worker, friends catching up, or the stay-at-home mom looking to get out of the house.
“We hope Historia becomes known for being a place that is positive and uplifting, creating a space where everyone feels like they have a seat at the table,” he said.