Vondra Social House, located in a historic building across from Lincoln’s home, is holding a soft opening today.
Owners Eric and Sierra Farrell held a ribbon cutting Nov. 18 and plan to begin offering a limited dinner menu while they wait for delivery of a walk-in cooler that will allow them to expand the offerings and operating hours. Once fully operational, the establishment will offer brunch, lunch and a cocktail bar with small plates in the evening.
The couple purchased the property at 724 E. Edwards St. in April for $110,000, according to Sangamon County tax records. The historic two-story building just south of the Lincoln Home National Historic Site was mostly recently The Carriage House, co-owned by Dalton Ingram and Megan Pritchett, which closed in December.
“We wanted an older building with character, not just something in a strip mall,” said Sierra Farrell of the property constructed in 1840. “We’re into traveling and have loved finding niche places that invite you in from the appearance and atmosphere.”
The couple both have a background in the restaurant industry and worked as managers at Brickhouse Grill & Pub and Cousin Eddie’s before stepping down to pursue their passion for traveling the world. Sierra said opening their own restaurant was always in the back of their minds.
“We wanted to have our own venture where we could be creative with the food and the cocktails,” Eric Farrell said.
While the property didn’t require significant renovations – Sierra described it primarily as “painting and revisioning” – a bigger challenge was figuring out how to make a small kitchen in a historic building more functional.
“The building is 185 years old; we can’t expand the kitchen,” said Eric. “We’ve been curating the menu to match what the kitchen is capable of.”
They have also brainstormed ways to better utilize the second-floor space, and Eric said it would allow for special events or private parties to take place while the restaurant is still open to the public.
“We’d love to do bourbon nights or cocktail nights, paired with some food,” he said. “We could do that upstairs and still have downstairs open for regular service.”
For now, Vondra Social House will be open for dinner service 4-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, then 4-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Brunch will be offered Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with the daytime hours and menu to be announced soon.