A local couple are bringing a warm touch of retro charm to Holmdel, just in time to make the autumn extra cozy. Kimberly Schlepf Ardise and Adam Ardise will be opening 61 Main Cafe & Boutique, a unique shopping and dining experience, to the neighborhood, reports local media outlet Asbury Park Press.
As the name suggests, 61 Main Cafe & Boutique will be opening at 61 Main Street. The business operations will be divided across two floors of the rehabilitated Victorian building, with a full service cafe on the ground floor and a shop on the second.
Owner Kimberly Schlepf Ardise tells What Now Philadelphia that the property’s natural personality helped dictate its fate. She explains: “It had a lot of charm to it and it’s a really good lot size, where we could have outdoor space. It kind of reminded me of a Vermont general store-it had a few design elements that spoke to being able to keep its natural beauty but giving it some sort of an update.”
Ardise mentions that she and her business partner husband are enthusiastic about bringing something new to the neighborhood, and joining other high-quality small businesses like Italian deli il Mercato. She states: “My husband and I have been waiting for a property to come up for sale on Main Street. There are a lot of real estate offices and office buildings, but not a lot of small businesses. We were waiting for the perfect opportunity for a new investment and we knew that we wanted to do something in our hometown for a while, so we purchased the building. So everything timing wise really came together.”
61 Main will offer local residents a new and welcoming place to enjoy a snack and browse for distinctive gifts. Ardise explains: “It’s truly evolved since we came up with the original concept, which was a modern day general store. We’re turning the first floor into a full service cafe with coffee, shakes, pastries, soups, and to-go items. We do have some seating.”
The Ardises are hoping to create “A place of community with a sense of nostalgia, where it just feels good to be in there. Upstairs is a gifting boutique, full of home decor items, seasonal items, closing gifts for real estate agents, something for everyone. We’ll have a flower fridge for unique arrangements and a gift wrapping station.”
61 Main will be working with several local businesses to feed its hungry clientele. Ardise says: “We’re partnering with Offshore Coffee-which is a really good local roaster with 2 cafes, Apple Street Kitchen on our soups…we’ll be getting a delivery fresh everyday from Balthazar Bakery, and teaming up with Perotti quality meats for some other delicious cafe snacks.”
Holmdel residents won’t have to wait much longer to experience all that 61 Main has to offer. Ardise states that “We’re shooting for the middle of October; we’re close. We’re going to get some final inspections soon. We’re going to do some soft opening dates, private preview events, and we’ll have an official ribbon cutting ceremony.”
Ardise encourages future regulars to reach out to [email protected] with any questions, and to follow 61 Main on Facebook , Instagram, and X.
