Ever thought about a date night cooking class? A new business set to open in mid-October will offer that and much more. Mimi’s Market & Royal Cafe is a family affair, run by owner Leigh Morgan, daughter CoCo Raymer and her mother Mimi Shelly Moore.
“Two of my favorite things to do are eat and shop,” said Morgan, when asked what the inspiration was behind the new business located at 305 S. Main St.
The new business will hold an open house Saturday, during this year’s Poplar Bluff Iron Horse Festival and encourages everyone to come and see what they have been working on.
The exterior of the building has been completely overhauled. They took great strides to add features that coincide with the age and originality of the building, Morgan said, such as a wood and stained glass entryway. Once inside, visitors are greeted with the smell of a multitude of scented candles, as well as a seating area. The original exposed brick walls, eclectic decor and eclectic lighting fixtures add to the uniqueness of the business.
“I want to show people what can happen to these old buildings. This building was going to be condemned and would have probably been torn down,” said Morgan. “It scares a lot of people because they can’t see past the mess. I just want them to see this as an example. It took a lot of blood sweat and tears.”
The demo was probably the easiest part, said Morgan, who explained they bought and began working on the building in 2015.
Morgan said she was also inspired by the culinary interests of her brother, the late Lucas Moore, as he was originally going to be a partner in the business.
“(My) brother passed in 2018. He was going to be my partner. He went to culinary school and was a chef, so that kind of threw us off, but everything is falling into place now,” Morgan said, adding COVID also slowed down the opening process.
The cafe will feature a variety of soups and salads, as well as hot and cold sandwiches, “simple family recipes,” according to Morgan.
“We will have guest chefs. There are a lot of people here that can cook and a lot of these people haven’t been to culinary school, but have valuable skills to share,” she said.
Morgan hopes to implement a steak night, a Sunday brunch, cooking classes and a design class, “just simple down-to-earth stuff.”
The dining side of the business features distinctive lighting fixtures and a wall of mirrors, one of which pays homage to Morgan’s late brother Lucas. It displays one of his very first recipes for “stoo” from childhood, which was featured in the Daily American Republic when Moore was in the second grade.
“I guess he always had the chef in him,” said Morgan.
Morgan went on to add she values the revitalization of historic downtown Poplar Bluff and saw a need for this in the community.
She intends to coincide her opening hours with local schedules, so people have somewhere to go because she knows first-hand how hectic life can get and she wants to have extended hours to help in that area.
Morgan said she is excited about opening soon.
“The timing may not be what you want, but it happens when it’s supposed to happen I think,” she said.