“We believe in the community. We’re staying in this area. We are investing.”
That’s the sentiment from Mason Jar Cafe owners Jayme Cousins and Abel Abarca as they prepare to close for two weeks to begin a major renovation of their life’s work.
While closing a restaurant for two weeks during the throes of a fickle Southwest Michigan winter might not seem like much of a sacrifice, it can feel like an eternity for people familiar with the popular breakfast and brunch spot in the heart of Benton Harbor’s Arts District.
But the pain will only be temporary, and the husband-and-wife owners are excited about the planned improvements.
“We’ve had the same size kitchen since we opened. It was made to accommodate only about 40 people and since (then) we’ve expanded to (seat) about 220 people. So, we are doing a full kitchen remodel,” said Cousins.
Abarca said the new kitchen will accommodate 10 staff where the current space typically bursts at five to seven people.
In addition to building a brand-new kitchen that will be double the size of the current one, they’re creating a formal bar/coffee barista area at the rear of the space and installing four new unisex bathrooms. They’re installing a new roof, a new fire suppression system, updated walls and flooring, and adding dining area seating.
Cousins said they’ve been thinking about a renovation for the better part of the last five years. The budget for the overhaul is $800,000.
“We’re going to try and keep it in line with how we are right now. We don’t want to change the ‘eclectic mess’ of the cafe, but we do want to make it more functional. There will be seats at the bar so you can come in and get a drink or have a coffee and sit down.”
Restauranteur Collaboration
Starting Monday, February 10, the Mason Jar will be closed for two weeks. When they reopen, they will borrow Grand Mere Inn’s Ducks on the Run food truck to use as a temporary kitchen space until the new kitchen is fully finished.
“The Racines are wonderful people. We had been looking for a mobile kitchen for a while and then my husband was like, ‘Well, Charlie has a food truck and they’re not using it right now.’ So, he went over there one night and talked to Charlie, and he said, ‘Okay, you can borrow it. That’s no big deal.’ It’s amazing. They’re really great people.”
While the temporary kitchen is in place, Cousins said the menu will be abbreviated.
“We’re probably going to have to shorten the menu down a little bit when we’re working out of the food truck, though I don’t think the truck is much smaller than what we’re working in right now.”
Even though the temporary menu will be missing some items, Cousins promised, “The pancakes will not be affected.”
New Staff Opportunities
With the updates and expanded areas, Cousins and Abarca said they plan to add more people to the team. As many as 10 in the front and four in the back of the house.
Cousins and Abarca say most of the current kitchen and wait staff have offered to help during the renovation.
“We’re going to do a lot of the demolition ourselves so a lot of (the staff) are going to help and then we have a lot of cleaning, painting, reorganizing, and that kind of stuff that they’ll all be able to come in and help with and get paid for.”
Abarca said the team’s willingness to help outside of their typical roles is something he never expected.
“I thought the staff would be like, ‘Well, you guys are closing so we’ll be on vacation.’ No. They all want to do something. They want to come and help. I don’t know what we’d do without them. Everyone is so excited and wants to be part of the demolition. They want to be part of doing something. I don’t know how to say it. We have a hell of a team.”
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The Mason Jar Cafe will be closed February 10 through February 24. Pictured at top: Mason Jar Cafe co-owners Abel Abarca and Jayme Cousins. Photo credit — Mason Jar Cafe.
