This Batavia Bakery Was Inducted Into Illinois Made Program

BATAVIA, IL — New Moon Vegan, a small-batch bakery and cafe in downtown Batavia, is one of the small businesses that make "Illinois an incredible destination for residents and visitors alike," the Illinois Office of Tourism determined.

New Moon Vegan was inducted into Gov. JB Pritzker's Illinois Made Program in November. Honorees are selected yearly for exemplifying the authentic experiences and innovative products that make Illinois special, Batavia MainStreet said in a news release.

Located at 119 S. Batavia Ave., the bakery offers 100 percent plant-based pastries, breads and savory treats that are made fresh daily using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients.

Inspired by their Italian-American roots from Staten Island, New York, couple Jo Colagiacomi and Jay Weichun opened their brick-and-mortar in 2023 after graduating from Batavia MainStreet's Boardwalk Shops incubator program in 2021.

"New Moon Vegan embodies what makes downtown Batavia special — innovation, creativity, and a deep commitment to community," Kristen Desler, assistant director of Batavia MainStreet, said in a statement. "Jo and Jay have created more than a bakery. They've built a warm, welcoming space that draws visitors from across Illinois and showcases the incredible talent growing right here in Batavia."

The cafe is vegan and attracts many vegan and dairy-free guests, but a significant portion of their regulars are non-vegans who patronize for the quality and flavor of the pastries, according to the news release.

"Watching New Moon Vegan grow from a Boardwalk Shop to an Illinois Made honoree has been inspiring," Desler said. "Jo and Jay have created something truly special, and we are honored to celebrate this milestone with them."

New Moon Vegan is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.