Schlee’s Gourmet Bakery & Bottle Shop is opening Monday, Sept. 29, with the goal of bringing high-quality, small quantity drinks and baked good to downtown Springfield.
Ashley Rickenbach relocated from Austin, Texas, to Springfield and partnered with Benjamin Galbraith and Matthew and Rachael Hurley to launch Schlee’s.
“Austin has a very robust network of bars and restaurants,” she said. “I felt like Springfield had a couple things missing in that regard, but a lot of potential.”
Renovations began in May on the space at 225 S. Sixth St., and Rickenbach said she thinks the location, which is across from Maldaner’s and close to the Old State Capitol, is ideal.
“Everything is right here; it’s centrally located,” she said. Rickenbach said she’s talked to many people who bemoan the shift in foot traffic to the west side of Springfield and she hopes to be part of the draw to encourage people to return. “This is the perfect spot to make that happen – us being here brings more people downtown.”
Schlee’s will offer a selection of pastries baked from scratch, plus what Rickenbach described as “a coffee program centered on craftsmanship and quality.”
In the evening the sit-down service will feature small bites and wine pairings, rather than a traditional restaurant menu.
Rickenbach said everything will be made from scratch, and the limited menu will focus on six to eight baked items each day. She also noted that nothing will be mass-produced or moved from one location to another.
“We’re going to focus 100% on this one location,” she said. “Everything means more when it’s intentional.”
Rickenbach said the space will include a private meeting room for groups that may want to host community meetings, Bible studies or other gatherings. She said she’s already had conversations with the James Project and other nonprofits who have expressed interest in holding private events as fundraisers.
“I hope this will be a warm, inviting place to meet friends or have a business meeting,” she said.
Plans for the business were first announced last fall but Rickenbach said construction delays postponed the projected opening date.
“There was a lot of reconfiguring the space, it was a hair salon before… we had to figure out how to put in a kitchen and a coffee bar,” she said. “Plus, the process of licensing takes so much patience; 85% of the things are not in your hands.”
Schlee’s will be open 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 7 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday.