Earlier this month Gut Check reported that Urban Studio Café in Old North St. Louis had closed its doors, and that a new coffee shop, La Mancha, was gearing up to take its place.
That's still the plan, but the effort to reopen the space under new management hit a snag when the former owner, Grace Hill Settlement House, decided not to sell off its equipment, furniture and kitchen appliances.
New owners David and Veronica Holden are throwing a "baby-business shower," an event they announced on their blog. They're directing interested parties to their "registry," which includes a list of items they'll need to make La Mancha a reality, including an ice machine, fridge and freezer.
David Holden says he still anticipates opening the doors to customers about April 1. "This hasn't put us in a pinch," he says. "It's just been an inconvenience."
Holden says a handful of donors have already come forward with money and equipment. And while he's not expecting a coffee-loving angel to swoop into his shop carrying a refrigerator, "I won't stop 'em if they wanted to," he says.
