Interior of Café Moxo.
April 25, 2019.
Side entrance of Wm. Van's Coffee House. April 25, 2019.
Exterior of Café Moxo on E Adams St. April 25, 2019.
Exterior of Wm. Van's Coffee House, on corner of E Jackson St. and 7th St. on April 25, 2019.
There are a few cafés in downtown Springfield, IL that are prime spots in the city for both citizens and visitors to get breakfast, lunch, and coffee.
Café Moxo (pictured left) is located at 411 E Adams St, Springfield, IL 62701. The café features a full breakfast and lunch/dinner menu, along with bakery items. They also offer a variety of coffee drinks, including espresso. The restaurant has multiple rooms with lots of seating, therefore accommodating groups of all sizes. It is a cozy but lively location on both weekdays and weekends, and a favorite of regulars and visitors alike. It is approximately a ten minute walk from Café Moxo to the Illinois State Capitol Building, a landmark in downtown Springfield.
Wm. Van's Coffee House (pictured right) is located at 503 S 7th St, Springfield, IL 62703. The coffee shop, owned by Conn's Hospitality Group, has an extensive coffee menu, featuring drip coffee, espresso drinks, and everything in between. The café also has a more limited but unique breakfast and lunch menu, a full bakery case, as well as some grab-and-go options.
The house that holds Wm. Van's has a rich history, having been built in the 1850s by Isaac Lindsey six blocks down on South 7th Street. Lindsey actually borrowed around $600 from Abraham Lincoln in order to cover part of the cost. According to Jay Shanle, the Corporate administrator from Conn's Hospitality Group, the original house was, at one point, under the ownership of Obed and Cordelia Lewis. Their great-great-grandson and his wife, Court and Karen Conn, purchased the family property hoping to restore it to its 19th century grandeur. However, by 2008, it was beyond repair. Springfield Clinic purchased the property and planned to demolish the house, but the Conn family, the Heritage Foundation, and the City of Springfield in cooperation with Springfield Clinic worked together to save the house. The building was lifted off its foundation and moved to its current location, which is near Lincoln's home.
Jay Shanle also revealed that Wm. Van's is special because of the experience guests have when visiting. He emphasized Conn Hospitality Group's motto, "Preserving History Through Hospitality," which he believes rings true to Wm. Van's Coffee House.
Shanle also highlighted Wm. Van's as an active member of the community of downtown Springfield, as they open their space for events like art shows, live music, poetry nights, and civic and community enrichment programs.
