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Dining to Return to 1 Main Street, Chester

Editor's note: This story corrects numerous inaccuracies from an earlier web and print version.

There’s more brewing in downtown Chester than the beer at Little House Brewing Co. The Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) approved at its July 12 meeting an application for special exception to include the coffee and tea service at CAIT SHEA + Sprouted coffee & tea bar, located at 1 Main Street.

The application requested approval of a café, coffee, and tea bar, with indoor and outdoor seating. The approval was granted pending approval from the fire marshal, sanitarian, and other town officials.

CAIT SHEA owner Cait Clark has added an espresso bar and gourmet tea options to her current retail space, where she sells clothing.

“It is primarily a retail space [on] both floors and then I added in a coffee bar with a sofa, two oversize chairs, and a coffee table,” said Clark.

The building is owned by Sarah Jansen.

“When I bought the building, it was Elizabeth’s Café. It was a breakfast restaurant, so it did have a restaurant in there at one time, plus we had Kim with the cupcakery…So we’ve had a little bit of dancing around with food in there as well,” said Jansen.

The space, according to residents at the PZC meeting, fits right into the heart of downtown as a business heading Main Street.

“Especially with the new sidewalk and that fabulous new platform in front of Sarah [Jansen’s] building, it just seems like a perfect use for that space,” said Janet Good. “I’m delighted to see something like that happen and I endorse it wholeheartedly.”

The café will serve food, though no food prep will take place on the premises.

While Clark expects the major income of the business to continue to be on the retail side, the café is “something to get people in the door,” Clark said.

“[It’s a] gourmet espresso bar, there’s not really that in town,” said Clark. “I use local coffee from New London and I have Whole Harmony, which is a local tea company…I don’t think there’s really anything else like it in town.”

For more information, visit www.caitshea.com.