TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Last week, we learned that downtown staple Crossroads Cafe closed their doors for good, but the building that hosted the business won’t be vacant for too long as their next door neighbor gets ready to expand.
In late September, local business owner Kris Kraut and his wife opened Federal Coffee and Fine Foods on the corner of 7th and Wabash, becoming one of several businesses in that area with plans to open their doors in the midst of a pandemic.
“We were kind of just planning ahead for the worst, and luckily we made it through those very first early months that were pretty quiet,” Kraut said.
Kraut says since opening, his business has been fortunate to receive the support they have from the community.
He credits some of that to offering options like a walk-up window and online ordering.
“It’s been a fun challenge to kind of adapt as restrictions and things have changed, and we’ve learned, I think, at that this point how to get through it,” Kraut said.
Just before the start of 2020, negotiations began in order for the Kraut’s to secure their current location, just a year later, there are now plans for expansion.
Federal Coffee has purchased the now former building of Crossroads Cafe, which closed on the 23rd after more than two decades. Kraut says this will help improve the food side of his business.
“Currently we produce everything at Sycamore Farm which is where our catering company is located and we transport that here two or three times a day to keep inventory fresh and keep the menu changing, so eliminating that step will be very very helpful now that we’ll have a kitchen on site,” Kraut said.
The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce says they are excited to see a local business have the opportunity to grow.
“I guess the saying that applies here is when one door closes, another one opens. Yes, we certainly are sad to see the long time staple of Crossroads Cafe come to an end, however, it’s really exciting to be able to see some new investment happening,” said Kristin Craig, president of Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce.
Kraut says when they do expand, plans are to become a spot for lunch, brunch, and breakfast, plus he wants to offer evening cooking classes.
He hopes this will happen sometime in spring.
