Nellie’s Jellies Cafe, now open at 210 Prairie Lane, offers a health-conscious menu and plans to add a dog-friendly patio space in the coming months.
Right now, the cafe is in soft-opening mode, serving coffee and pastries from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.
There’s a big vision for the cafe, with plans to expand hours, host classes and events, and make use of its liquor license in the near future.
The current smattering of retail items for sale will be expanded, and the area where dogs can roam free while their owners sip beverages should be ready by the time warmer weather arrives in spring.
The cafe is located in a standalone building on the same property as CoolWag, a dog-boarding business. Both businesses are owned by Heather and Eric Wegner.
The cafe has seating for about 30 people and is named after the couple’s teenage daughter, who works at the cafe.
In addition to CoolWag and the cafe, the entrepreneurial couple operates several other small businesses in the area. Heather’s email signature now lists seven different brands, including All Paws Training, Crystal sPAWs Grooming, and Sheep's & Peeps Farm.
Nellie’s Jellies is the couple’s first food service venture, though Heather previously worked as a server in high-end restaurants for a number of years.
“I’ve always kind of liked the business, but we also wanted a place where people could come and enjoy themselves — not just watch their dogs, but maybe have a cocktail, a really good coffee, or good food,” she said.
As owners of the building with no rent to pay, the couple can afford to take things slow, expanding service and hours when they’re ready.
“We are fortunate that we don't have to have a really solid business plan, and we can kind of do what we're passionate about, what our passion is leading us to do,” Heather said.
Underpinning the philosophy behind the menu is a health scare Heather experienced a few years ago, which led her to change her diet.
“So I had choices to make, and the choice that I made was to go the holistic route, using a healthy diet to change my health, my outcome. I went cold turkey. No processed foods, no enriched flours, no added sugars, no food dyes, no artificial sweeteners – basically, nothing that I used to eat,” she said.
Like the entrepreneurs behind Sandi Sue’s Gluten Free Bakery and Stoic Brews Alternative, Heather found herself limited by local dining options. With a fully equipped kitchen, the plan is to expand into lunch and dinner service.
The couple, along with cafe manager Tonja DeWolf, are fans of Barbara O'Neill, an Australian wellness speaker who promotes natural remedies and holistic approaches to health and nutrition. In addition to designing a menu based on O’Neill’s nutrition advice, they’ve traveled to hear her speak and have copies of her book for sale in the cafe.
While Nellie’s Jellies is a separate business from CoolWag, it’s not entirely disconnected.
The dog boarding clientele tends to be regular customers, who show up in the morning to drop off their dogs. Just like during school drop-off times, a short line can be seen most mornings.
With the cafe next door, customers planning to make another stop for coffee on the way to work can knock another thing off their to-do list. With online ordering, it can be ready when they arrive.
“They’re regulars — they come every day. Why not have a regular coffee break?” Eric said.
