A former restaurant in a historic Springfield neighborhood has new owners who plan to reopen it with a different focus.
Eric and Sierra Ferrell 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. It closed last fall for remodeling but only briefly reopened before closing permanently in December.
Jerry “Jay” Miller and Kelly Batley originally reopened the restaurant in May 2019 under the name Springfield Carriage Company before selling the business a few years later. Prior to that, the building had been vacant since 2011, when Chris Bollinger and Peggy Raabe closed The Chuckwagon at the Springfield Carriage Co., a restaurant the couple operated along with a horse-drawn carriage business.
Now, the Ferrells plan to open Vondra Social House, offering brunch, lunch and a cocktail bar with small plates in the evening.
“We wanted an older building with character, not just something in a strip mall,” said Sierra Ferrell 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. Ferrell said opening their own restaurant was always in the back of their minds.
“We used to go to Carriage Company a lot. When it went up for sale the last time, we were upset that we missed it, but we weren’t ready to open a business,” she said. “When it came back up (earlier this year), it was a sign, and we jumped on it pretty quickly.”
The couple has started renovating the property and chose a business name based on a combination of their grandmothers' names, Vonnie and Sandra.
Ferrell said they inherited a love of cooking and entertaining from their families. “We both love hosting and the social interaction of people getting together to celebrate something,” she said.
And given the proximity to many state offices and tourist sites, Ferrell said they plan to offer a “fast-paced” brunch and lunch menu, then close and reopen in the evening to offer small plates and bar service. “You wouldn’t necessarily come there for dinner, it’s more of a snack and social-type atmosphere,” she said.
A fall opening is planned, not only to allow time to complete the renovations but also because the couple recently found out they are expecting their first child in early September.
“It’s kind of a lot, but in a good way,” Ferrell said.
