Joliet Cafe Opens 'Worldly' Sister Location In Bolingbrook

BOLINGBROOK, IL — The popular Joliet coffee house Kafe De Kasa is often packed to the brim with customers, as owner Johnny — a nickname — attests. Now, fans of the craft coffee have another location to visit: Kafe Du Monde in Bolingbrook.

Couple Johnny and Norma opened the original Kafe De Kasa in Joliet in January 2020. After the lease on that building ended, they relocated Crest Hill location, before returning with a second shop in Joliet. Johnny said he wanted his own coffee house — since Kafe De Kasa is operated primarily by Norma — and he opened a sister shop, Kafe Du Monde, in Bolingbrook in October.

"We've had so much support from the local community as well," Johnny said about the Bolingbrook spot. "People come in there just to support local."

Located near Rosati's Pizza off Boughton Road, at 345 N. Schmidt Road, Kafe Du Monde is truly a "cafe of the world." Globes are displayed throughout the space, including serving as light fixtures. Even the typography used for the logo has a cartographic feel to it. And if you look closely at the art decorating the walls, you'll notice the signatures of famous artists from around the world.

"I love cultures," said Johnny, who works also works full-time as a construction manager in Chicago. "Bringing them into my shop is important to me."

Having previously played around with the idea of owning a coffee shop, Johnny said he and his girlfriend started their businesses when they noticed a lack of local coffee houses.

"Lack of coffee was our motivation," he said.

One thing that sets Kafe Du Monde apart from other coffee houses is the creative drinks on the menu. Johnny said one thing he does differently is let the baristas invent their own drinks in an in-house contest. After a few taste tests, the drinks are unveiled to the public for a limited time, and the best ones remain on the menu.

One of the most popular items on the menu is the "butterfly peach lemonade" — and it's there to stay, Johnny said. The drink, made with lemonade and peaches, has organic butterfly pea tea added to it to give it a stunning purple coloring.

Next up, Johnny said he wants to try his hand at inventing a Kinder Bueno-based coffee.

Beyond specialty drinks, Kafe Du Monde uses authentic materials in their drinks. Order a Ferrero Rocher-flavored drink, and the chocolate for it will be melted right there. Want a drink made with Abuelita chocolate? It's on site. They go through packs of Oreos a week making lattes.

Kafe Du Monde also serves pastries and sweet treats from Shorewood's Sweet Gallery Cups`n Cakes.

"Ever since we've opened, we sell out," he said.

To Johnny, it's also important to build relationships with customers. He'll ask curiously about his guests, making sure to learn their name, and he'll share details about his life. Good customer service is something he teaches his employees as well. Asking customers their name, remembering them, is crucial, he said.

"We serve a good product, and we verify quality, and normally I'm there," he said. "It's about being friendly to clients and giving them the customer service that has since disappeared in the ages."

Kafe Du Monde's full menu can be found on its website.

The coffee shop is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Kafe Du Monde can be found on Facebook and Instagram.

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