Goshen Coffee Roasters will open a café in the former Soulard Coffee Garden this spring

Goshen Coffee Roasters, a popular Edwardsville coffee company, is bringing what it deems GOod SH*t ENergy to Soulard this spring. The company plans to move into the former home of Soulard Coffee Garden at 910 Geyer Ave. hopefully in April.

CEO Jennifer Hughey, who co-owns the business with her husband, Mike Bergen, sister, Julie Elson, and brother-in-law, Jay Beard, said that the decision to inhabit the space in Soulard was a quick one but aligned perfectly with Goshen’s recent rebranding and expansion plans. “Our cafés are a representation of our belief in putting good energy out and getting it right back. We want people to feel welcome to come in and spend time in our spaces,” Hughey said. 

As for the menu, the café will feature much, if not all, of the house-made pastries, toasts and burritos that fans of its Edwardsville location have come to know and love. Guests can be on the lookout for a few new menu items as well. However, Hughey emphasized, when it comes down to it, Goshen is all about the coffee. Guests can expect the same roasts and specialty coffee drinks that Goshen Coffee Roasters made its name in, such as Bright Eyed Breakfast Blend, Bona Fide Blend and Black Dog Espresso. In line with Goshen’s culture of giving back, each coffee variety is inspired by and paired with a unique charity to which a portion of its sales are donated. “We develop relationships with charitable organizations throughout the area and those relationships drive the creation and naming of our coffees. That’s what Goshen and GOod SH*t ENergy is really about,” Hughey added. 

Hughey also noted that Goshen’s ethically sourced coffees are a step above fair trade called “cultivate trade,” meaning its growers are paid at least 10 percent above what is considered fair trade.

Outside of its cafes, you can find Goshen coffee on the shelves of grocery stores like Schnucks, Dierberg’s, Straub’s, Whole Foods and Fresh Thyme, as well as in other area cafes and wholesale partners. The coffee roasters plan to begin expanding the brand’s presence nationally in the next year or so. 

The co-owners plan to add some bright pops of color, refinished floors and extensive WiFi connectivity sure to allure coffee-lovers to cozy up and stay awhile. The 2,400-square-feet space in Soulard, which seats 50 indoors, will have a new look and feel. “The space has great character as is. We’re really leaning into its French bistro vibe,” Hughey noted. Former frequenters of Soulard Coffee Garden can rest assured that the famed garden and front patio, which seat 30 to 40 and six to eight, respectively, will also be open to guests when the weather allows. 

Beard and Elson originally purchased the coffee company in 2011 but have split ownership 50/50 with Hughey and Bergen since early 2020. The Soulard location will be the second iteration of Goshen Coffee Café, the first of which is located at 6120 Shoger Drive in Edwardsville, Illinois. You can find Goshen Coffee Roasters on Facebook and Instagram.