Monticello native Kelly Cavanaugh and her husband, Hayden, have always shared a love of coffee.
“It’s where our second date was,” she said. “It’s where we met each weekend when we were long distance. It’s just been a passion of ours.”
The couple, who both have experience in the industry, have felt that Monticello could use a drive-thru option for coffee.
“We wanted to have something that kind of set us apart from the other spots here, and so we have finally found the perfect location,” Cavanaugh said. “And we just kind of want to share that connection that we made with each other with the community.”
The couple hopes to open Evlo Coffee Company — named after their sons Evan and Logan — at 501 W. Bridge St., Suite 505, in mid-spring.
Cavanaugh gave the month of April as a “ballpark” estimate but added that construction is just now getting underway, and winter weather could affect the timeline.
The Monticello City Council voted Monday to approve a redevelopment agreement to reimburse Evlo Coffee Company up to $10,000 for renovation costs.
According to the business’ application, the project will include creating fully ADA-compliant restrooms, adding “commercial vinyl plank flooring” throughout the space, putting in new plumbing, and other interior work.
“We’re excited to get moving,” Cavanaugh said. “This is something the community wants and something we want.”
She added that she and her husband want to get the community’s input on what menu items people are craving so they can ensure Evlo stands out from other coffee shops.
Cavanaugh also shared that her husband is a veteran who served in the army for 15 years.
“Traveling all over the country, we know how important it is to have a space that you can return home to and (where) you can reconnect with people,” she said. “We really want to be that space for people in whatever form they are looking for.”
New donut shop coming to St. Joseph
Between the closure of Pandamonium Donuts and Industrial Donut — plus the demolition of the former Carmella’s Creme building — 2025 was a rough year for donut-lovers in Champaign County. However, the November opening of Royal Donut’s new Champaign location was a silver lining, and there’s more good news.
Cleo’s Donuts, a new family-owned business, will be located at 109 N. Main St. The building, which is also home to The Wheelhouse, is located along the St. Joseph portion of the Kickapoo Rail Trail.
“While we don’t have an exact opening date to share yet, we are planning to open Cleo’s Donuts in 2026,” the business told The News-Gazette. “Our focus right now is on building the shop and perfecting our offerings, and we’ll announce a specific date once plans are finalized.”
C-U restaurant
opens new location
Maize Mexican Grill’s new location at 1305 S. Neil St. — formerly home to Epic Burger — is now open.
“The drive thru is not yet operational but hoping sometime this week!” the restaurant shared in a social media post on Monday.
The restaurant also has locations in downtown Champaign and the Illini Union in Urbana.
Neighborhood bar reopens under new owners
The Boxcar on Prospect — formerly The Neighbors at The Ice House — is now open for business, according to the bar’s Facebook page.
Heather Fowler said in a previous interview that a “small local ownership group” — including herself and James McNeely — purchased the bar in December.
The Boxcar on Prospect is located at 703 N. Prospect Ave. in Champaign. The business’ new name takes inspiration from vintage train cars, as well as the bar’s proximity to the railroad, Fowler said.
Ethiopian restaurant
up and running
Blue Ethiopian Cuisine & Café is now open, with Jan. 17 marking a soft launch. A grand opening is set for Jan. 24.
“The long wait is finally over,” the business shared on Facebook. “As we prepare to open our doors, our hearts are full of gratitude. To everyone who has shared a kind word, sent encouragement, or asked ‘When is the big day?’ — thank you. Your love has been our fuel.”
The restaurant is located at 117 N. Walnut St. in downtown Champaign, the former home of Farren’s before its move to The Inman.
Planet Fitness
makes its move
A local Planet Fitness franchise owned by Black Duck Partners has finished relocating from Urbana to Savoy.
The gym’s new location — aka the former Friar Tuck Beverage at 1333 Savoy Plaza Lane — opened on Jan. 6, according to Heather Pearson, a public relations manager for the chain.
“The Savoy location offers a completely revamped facility with more square footage to better serve the community,” she said, adding that the space offers almost 18,000 square feet.
Meanwhile, the gym’s old location at 1809 S. Philo Road in Urbana is available for lease. According to a listing with Coldwell Banker Commercial Devonshire Realty, the approximately 13,330-square-foot space is offered at a rent of $8 per square foot per year.
Agritourism business to celebrate opening of new facility
Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, located at 4410 N. Lincoln Ave., Champaign, has announced that its new classroom space is now open and will host several events in February, including workshops on cooking, soap-making, writing, art and journaling. An educational series in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension is also planned.
The classroom space, along with a retail shop, is located in a new barn-style building that was recently built on the farm. Prairie Fruits will hold a grand opening for the facility from 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 7. Tickets are $60 per person.
The drop-in event will include refreshments, live music, tours, opportunities to visit with the farm’s goats, cheese sampling, information about upcoming events and gift bags for guests.
More information is available at prairiefruits.com/upcoming-events.
