NAZARETH, Pa. — A historic stone property in the heart of Nazareth is getting new life and a touch of European charm.
Longtime borough resident Jennifer O’Neill has purchased the building at 2 N. Main St. and is transforming the space into Circle Cafe on Main, a café inspired by European coffeehouses that aims to foster community connection.
A soft opening by Christmas is the goal, O'Neill told LehighValleyNews.com, but "reality may have another plan."
"I'm not backing down on the challenge to open by Christmas, but I am saying I want this done right and that takes time," she said.
The project is being financed through a Small Business Administration loan arranged by Lehigh Financial Group LLC, with Jeff Barber guiding O’Neill through the process and connecting her with key professionals to bring her vision to life.
“I wouldn’t have gotten to the finish line without Jeff,” O’Neill said. “He knew everything, was always responsive, and genuinely cared about helping me get this business off the ground.”
‘Everything I never knew I always wanted’
O’Neill spent more than 20 years in corporate software sales before deciding to pursue something “more meaningful and fulfilling."
Inspiration struck after a family trip to Europe, where she fell in love with the inviting atmosphere of small, neighborhood cafés.
When she came across the historic stone building in Nazareth’s town circle — across from the Moravian Church and surrounded by landmarks such as the post office and farmers market — she knew she’d found the perfect spot.
“It was everything I never knew I always wanted,” she said. “The windows, the views, the aesthetics of the building just spoke to me. I knew this was the place.
"Every time I come to my building, I fall more in love with it. It seriously stole my heart from the first time I walked in. I can't imagine that feeling ever getting old."
O’Neill said she plans minimal structural changes to the building, which dates to 1788 and last housed Mainstream Salon & Co. Before that, it also once belonged to Nazareth Area School District.
"I'm not sure for how long they owned it or used it, but it's pretty cool because on the third floor where the ceiling is sloped there are two 'offices' that you can still see the room numbers on the doors (3 & 4).
"The hardware on the doors throughout seem original as well as the moldings throughout. The views and natural sunlight [are] just perfection."
She’ll focus instead on new flooring, fresh paint and a fully equipped kitchen with a convection oven, commercial refrigerator and other professional-grade appliances.
“We’re creating a space with a boho, historic vibe,” she said. “Think deep peacock walls, a velvet couch, and natural lighting that makes it warm and inviting.
"Flow is so important and I'm working hard to make sure that resonates... [and] for the first time in my life I'm doing exactly what I want. I can see my vision perfectly."
'A place where people feel at home'
Circle Cafe on Main will feature homemade quiches, soups, flatbreads and pastries, along with convenient take-home dinners. There will be no deep fryers — O’Neill emphasizes fresh, made-with-care items, including deli-style pasta and potato salads inspired by her New Jersey roots.
Drinks will include seasonal homemade iced teas, lemonade and coffee brewed from Electric City Roasting beans.
“It’s about high-quality, convenient food that brings people together,” O’Neill said. “I want it to be a place where people feel at home, whether they’re stopping in for a quick lunch or spending an afternoon with friends.”
O’Neill is overseeing the buildout with A&E Drafting, which is also managing subcontractors. Renovation work already is underway, and she’s cautiously hopeful the café could be ready in time for Nazareth’s holiday festivities.
“Opening by Christmas is the dream,” she said. “It would be amazing to open our doors when the town lights the tree and welcome people in for coffee and warmth.”
And while O’Neill said an expansion into the building's upstairs could be in the cards one day, she's very much taking things one step at a time.
"For the foreseeable future I'm looking to rent the two-bed apartment upstairs," she said. "The building is zoned residential upstairs and the downstairs commercial."
For now, she's concentrating on everything she has planned in order to bring her vision to life.
“I want this café to be a hub for the community and an extension of my family. A place where people make memories,” she said.
Updates on renovation progress and an eventual opening will be shared on the café’s Facebook page.
"Let's just say we will be open for business to our community as soon as we can," she said.
