A new breakfast, brunch and lunch spot will be opening soon in the former Ugly Restaurant and Bar location on Wabash Avenue.
Renovation is underway to transform the storefront at 2312 Wabash Ave. into the Bespoke Café and Kitchen. Bespoke is owned by Irfan Djaferi, his wife Dia Djaferi, and his brother-in-law Neti Nuhiji. Nuhiji, who will be the kitchen manager and chef at Bespoke, also is an owner of the Fairgrounds Café on Peoria Road.
Bespoke’s menu will include classic American breakfast fare such as omelets, eggs, waffles and pancakes. Irfan Djaferi said the restaurant’s coffee menu will feature Lavazza coffee.
“It’s Italy’s best coffee, and we are the only one in the Springfield area that has the rights to sell it,” he said.
While the full menu is still under development, Djaferi said Bespoke’s lunch options will include sandwiches, soups, wraps and paninis. In keeping with the café’s name, everything will be made to order.
“All orders will be customized to the customer’s needs,” Djaferi said. “If you want your bacon crispy or your hashbrowns over easy, it will be bespoke.”
Bespoke is aiming for a soft opening in mid-May, with a grand opening to follow. The café currently is in the process of hiring servers, kitchen staff and baristas, Djaferi said.
The Djaferis moved to Springfield two years ago from Iowa, and Dia has been working at Fairgrounds Café while Irfan has been working for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. But they’ve been looking for an opportunity to open a breakfast café on the west side of Springfield.
The couple met the owner of the former Ugly Mediterranean restaurant more than a year ago. When Ugly, which was owned by Ersen Yildirin said his wife, Tuba Yildirin, closed in March, the Djaferis were ready to take on the lease for the space and purchase the restaurant equipment.
“There are not as many breakfast options on the west side,” Djaferi said. “Our goal is to bring something new to Springfield.”