TERRE HAUTE —
Not long after changing its name from Bit of Britain Tea Room to Stella’s Cafe, a downtown restaurant has announced plans to close its doors.
Stella’s Cafe and Tea Room with the Twist will be serving up its unique lunch dishes for the next three weeks, but after that, the business will be closing, said Stacia O’Connell, owner of the business.
March 2 will be the final day of operations, she said, adding the restaurant currently employs three people.
“I’m going to miss all of my customers,” O’Connell said Monday sitting in her restaurant. “Especially the regulars. You don’t just wait on them, you get to know them.”
A Bit of Britain relocated from Riley to 10 N. Sixth St. downtown in September 2007. It has specialized in teas, soups, sandwiches and special events.
Restaurant hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday through Friday.
O’Connell decided to change the name of the business from Bit of Britain Tea Room to Stella’s late last year. The idea was to broaden the restaurant’s appeal, but business has not been strong enough in recent months to keep the doors open, O’Connell said. In addition, health-related family expenses have led O’Connell to feel the time is right to make a change, she added.
In addition to offering 50 different type of tea, Stella’s specialized in vegetarian and vegan recipes. It also prided itself on offering unique twists on popular lunch dishes.
O’Connell has been running the business since 2008 and is hoping a buyer may keep the location functioning as a restaurant.
“I don’t regret it at all,” O’Connell said of running the business for the past four years. “I like making people happy with food.”
O’Connell hopes to continue working in the restaurant business, which she has done for several years. She enjoys serving fresh fruits and vegetables and presenting dishes in ways that surprise and please her customers, she said.
“I like to go for the ‘wow’ factor,” she said.
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
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Stella’s Cafe downtown plans to close March 2
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