HOLMDEL, NJ — Kimberly Schelpf Ardise said she wants her new cafe and boutique to be a place of community.
Ardise, 47, has been a Holmdel resident for several years. Now raising her own family in town, Ardise said she and her husband had been discussing a potential investment property somewhere in Holmdel.
It wasn’t until they had the opportunity to buy property on Main Street that Ardise said the concept for 61 Main Cafe & Boutique came to life.
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“It took us several months to figure out what it was going to be,” Ardise said. “We landed on a coffee shop with some elevated gifting, seasonal items, closing gifts for real estate agents.”
“It kind of evolved into a cafe and a boutique,” Ardise continued. “A real community-type store where families and people can enjoy.”
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For Ardise, the Holmdel community has been an integral part of 61 Main’s opening process.
As someone who grew up in Monmouth County and has her own family there, Ardise said that feedback from the community has been vital to the cafe and boutique’s development.
“The feedback has been that the downtown Holmdel area really needs some sort of revitalization,” Ardise said. “Ever since I’ve lived in town, besides Il Mercato, there really hasn’t been a lot of new businesses pop up in our area.”
“Everyone seems thrilled and excited to have this new addition,” Ardise continued. “So we thought it would be a perfect fit.”
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The Cafe
As both a cafe and boutique, 61 Main promises a variety of features for guests to enjoy. When it comes to the cafe’s specific offerings, Ardise has multiple projects in the works.
“There’s going to be something for everyone,” Ardise said. “We’re teaming up with a really cool coffee company, we’re going to have delicious pastries, we’re going to be serving soft-serve ice cream.”
In addition to the cafe’s menu options, Ardise said there will also be a small seating area for people to eat and relax.
“We’re going to have grab-and-go type items in an open food merchandiser,” Ardise said. “So like yogurt parfaits, and we’ll have a beverage fridge. We’re really working on the cafe.”
The Boutique
In addition to 61 Main’s cafe, the store will also feature a boutique with various products and gifts for customers to shop from.
“I really wanted to focus on stuff that you can’t find at big box retailers,” Ardise said. “I’ve been going to a lot of gift shows all across the country and [finding] a lot of stuff that you can’t find on Amazon as well. So just really unique, fun items.”
When it comes to gifts from 61 Main, Ardise said that her mindset is to “put more thought into being thoughtful.”
Once the cafe and boutique open, the store plans to have unique greeting cards, Holmdel merchandise, flower arrangements and more. Previews on 61 Main’s Instagram show products ranging from moisturizers to olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
“You’ll always find something new,” Ardise said.
In addition to offering their own products, Ardise said the store is planning to carry other brands as well.
“It goes back to what’s important to me,” Ardise said. “A lot of the brands that I’m carrying in the store are small business owners. A lot of them happen to be female, which I love to support and I think is important.”
As preparations for the cafe and boutique continue, Ardise said people should look out for soft opening and private preview events, as well as a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the store’s grand opening.
For now, Ardise is excited to continue development on 61 Main and share updates with the Holmdel community.
“We’re putting blood, sweat and tears into this thing,” Ardise said. “There’s no other people involved, it’s just the Ardise family. Being a native of Monmouth County and growing up in the area, this feels really special to me…I feel such a large sense of community around Holmdel and Monmouth County.”
“It feels like home, you know?” Ardise continued. “It’s just been a dream come true to watch it all unfold.”
To learn more about 61 Main Cafe & Boutique, you can visit their website.
61 Main Cafe & Boutique will be located at 61 Main Street, Holmdel.
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