MINSTER — A quiet, shaded lot on Main Street in Minster houses a bustling breakfast and lunch nook that soon will no longer exist.
After five years in business, Cottage Cafe will close on July 1.
The cafe’s owner, Shirley James, says the closing is bittersweet. The business has been on the market for the past six months, but was not purchased.
“In a way, I’m kind of glad it didn’t go into someone else’s hands,” James said. “Some of these recipes, like the cinnamon roll recipe, I’d just like to keep top secret.”
When the cafe opened, it was co-owned by James and Myra Boehnlein. After Boehnlein left the business, James continued, but some of her partner’s touches remained. One of her legacies for the business was a recipe for cinnamon rolls, passed down from Boehnlein’s mother.
James has had years of experience in the culinary and hospitality industry and has a degree in culinary and hospitality management from Sinclair Community College.
“I love to cook and I love to be social and see people,” James said. “I loved this little house, and it turned into Cottage Cafe.”
James’s experience shows through in her business, with friendly vases of flowers on hardwood tables and homey but elegant fabric tablecloths, all housed in the historic building. It was built in 1846, but James is only the third owner of it.
Elizabeth Baker, of Minster, has worked at the business for a year, and says it was a positive experience.
“It was really great to work with Shirley. I’ve known her since I was a kid,” she said. “Working with her and her family has been great.”
James is satisfied with Cottage Cafe and is looking forward to retirement.
“My goal was always five years, and we’ve reached that,” she said. “We have seven grandchildren. The oldest is 21 and youngest is 18 months, so we have lots of things to discover and do with the kids. Plus, my husband and I have both traveled in Europe and different places in our past professions, so there’s some places we want to go back to.
“We want to be able to go to a play or a show or a baseball game in Cincinnati and not have to rush back, but take our time. They tell me that when you’re retired, you’re busier than ever, but that’s a good thing because you make your own busy. It’s not someone else requiring you to do anything,” she added.
The business filled a niche in Minster with unique menu items, including as a breakfast pizza, homemade biscuits and gravy and the famous cinnamon rolls. James was the head chef.
“One of the most satisfying things as a chef is to look out in the dining room and see people enjoying your food, smiling, laughing, having a good time,” she said.
The small cafe was fueled by James, whose past helped her with the work. She used to work at the New Bremen Coffee Company, before becoming ill. Then as a cancer survivor, she worked with the American Cancer Society as a volunteer to promote and educate for Relay for Life. “I was able to travel to other countries and share fundraising ideas and people skills,” she said.
James also is active in the community as an off-and-on member of the Crescent Players for 15 years and a member of Faith Alliance Church in New Bremen, where she sings.
As a business owner, she was also able to give back to the community, helping support the yearbook, Oktoberfest and more.
“I live in New Bremen but work in Minster, so I tried to split it evenly between the two,” James said.
As the doors close on the cafe for good, James reminisced over the memories of the business.
“It’s sad, but people will miss us,” James said. “We filled a need here, wouldn’t have been successful if we hadn’t. But I think there are lots of great memories that happened here.”
