By Kate Bartlett-
Art’s Café, located at 5 East Main Street in Springville, is an outstanding café with an inspirational background story. The non-profit Springville Center for the Arts initiated the project over a decade ago, taking title to a collapsed building on the Village’s historic Main Street and putting forth a vision to transform the building into a hub for food and art. It worked. Today Art’s Cafe is helping to drive downtown revitalization in Springville. The Cafe is in full swing with an espresso, beer and wine menu as well as artisan breads and pastries, soups and sandwiches. Performances take place on the Cafe stage and art classes are held in a downstairs workshop.
Before we delve into the current happenings at the café, let’s first take a look at how it all began. The building was purchased for $1 in 2011, rescued by a group of passionate citizens, to become this artisan bakery and café. The community pulled together to raise $30,000 in just 30 days through an online fundraising campaign. Renovations began and the building slowly began to transform, despite several setbacks. The COVID-19 pandemic further delayed the café’s grand opening; however, now in 2022 the café is finally operating in line with its original vision. New menu items have been slowly added and seating has been expanded,
Alison Duwe, worker owner with Art’s Café, describes the food as flavorful and uncomplicated. “Our bread is naturally leavened. We source the bulk of our grains from Farmer Ground Flour near Ithaca. Our breads feature these organic, stone-ground flours. The breads taste great and they are good for you.” The Cafe’s seasonal menu rotates, featuring fresh produce, sandwiches and breakfast items including toasts, yogurts and egg sandwiches. Café beverages and bakery items are available all day, and beer and wine is now available.
The Cafe is unique in that it is one of the only buildings in western New York with a green roof. The rooftop garden is a restorative and beautiful space with raised beds for vegetables and herbs as well as beneficials and perennials. Whenever the cafe is open, the rooftop is accessible. In addition to growing food, the roof features tubular skylights that deliver daylight into the cafe spaces. The second floor holds artist apartments to host artists when they are in town. When unoccupied, this space is available as an Air B&B.
“What makes us unique is our close relationship with the Springville Center for the Arts”, says Allison. “We have several great programs for the community to get involved in. We have studio time, formal workshops and classes, and regularly host artist talks in the main café space. We have ukulele and jazz nights. There’s something for everyone no matter your age or interest.” The artisan workshop hosts events such as weaving, watercolor painting and kids’ classes. They regularly host a Wednesday folk night, and Spanish and French classes.
The café also hosts ticketed events, including Grammy nominated fiddle player Jeremy Kittel this past October, and will soon host Mick Block, pioneering multi-cellist, composer and educator.
The Art’s Café mission is to “build community through food and art in a restorative and inspiring environment”. They invite readers to come experience the café, and rediscover how food should taste.
“We are serious about everything we do; from the coffee we brew to the butter we put on your toast,” says Duwe.
Visit the café at 5 East Main Street with extended hours Wednesday -Friday 9am-8pm, and Saturdays 9-4pm. Call 716-592-9036 or visit online artscafespringville.com.