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A farm-to-table café, June’s Breakfast + Patio (June’s), is now open at 430 S Main St. in Shiloh. The locally-owned restaurant is located in a beautiful, must-see 1905 farmhouse that was converted into a hotel for a brief period. Now, it is one of the most remarkable locations in town.

Co-owners Jonathan Welzbacher and Liz Lingelbach Welzbacher sought support from the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Director Jo Ann Di Maggio May in June 2020 to help bring their vision to reality.

Welzbacher contacted the SBDC for assistance in developing a business plan, knowledge of projected finances, and assistance with the SBA loan application process. Di Maggio May and colleague Marti Wieland, a certified business development advisor, simplified the loan process and offered a resolution.

The SBDC team’s communication and willingness to help and offer access to resources was extremely beneficial, according to the Welzbachers.

While planning a return to the Metro East, the Welzbachers envisioned opening a place like the coffee shops in St. Louis they had come to love. “Those shops were how we came to know and love the St. Louis community,” they shared. “We wanted something similar here in the O’Fallon/Shiloh area.”

“The Welzbachers worked long and hard to bring this restaurant to fruition,” said Di Maggio May. “The SBDC and I are incredibly happy for Jon and Liz, and we look forward to supporting them as they grow their restaurant.”

The Welzbachers credit the assistance of many as the secret to their successful opening of June’s. After the construction loan was secured, the owners completed the renovation and built the foundation of the business with help from their team, Shiloh city officials, O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce leadership, friends in the industry, and family. These individuals helped with painting, assembling furniture, installing light fixtures, securing vendors, developing recipes and more.

The Welzbachers were also fortunate to receive their liquor license and health department sign off quickly. As a farm-to-table café, they source from local businesses and reduce waste through sustainability programs such as whole-site composting.

Contact the Welzbachers on Facebook and Instagram @Junesinshiloh, online at junesinshiloh.com or via email at team@junesinshiloh.com.

The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists start-up ventures like June’s, as well as existing businesses, headquartered in the nine-county region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe, and Randolph. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and SIUE as a service to Illinois small businesses.          

By aiding entrepreneurs and companies in defining their path to success, the SBDC network positively impacts the Metro East by strengthening the business community, creating, and retaining new jobs, and encouraging new investment. It enhances the region’s economic interests by providing one-stop assistance to individuals by means of counseling, training, research, and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses. When appropriate, the SBDC strives to affiliate its ties to the region to support the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large. 

To learn about the SBDC, contact the IL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE at 618-650-2929.  

Photo: June’s Breakfast + Patio owners Liz Lingelbach Welzbacher and Johnathan Welzbacher.