The Lighthouse: West Coast flavor hits downtown

The city by the bay is coming to downtown Springfield.

The Lighthouse, a San Francisco Bay-themed coffeehouse is set to open at 319 W. Walnut by the end of June.

Stephen Nichols is leasing the building from its owner David Kellett, who previously operated a banquet facility there called Three Nineteen.

Nichols and his general manager, Phil Reyth, are renovating the 5,615-square-foot space with a specific concept in mind.

"When they walk through that door, we want to transport every customer as if they're stepping onto Fisherman's Wharf," said Reyth, a San Francisco native.

The transition begins with a replica of the Fisherman's Wharf sign, welcoming guests as they step onto the wood-plank floor handcrafted by Nichols.

A mural of the oceanfront and cityscape will back a stage built to resemble a wooden pier.

"When it gets done it will look as if the bands or whoever are standing on the pier and the background is the ocean," Nichols said. He added that the pier's backdrop will not be complete before opening so "people will be able to see it progress."

Another mural will depict San Francisco's Coit Tower, and Nichols and Reyth said they would eventually like to put a scene of Fisherman's Wharf vendors on another wall and an entire cityscape on the outside of the building. Tony Verburght is doing all of the painting.

The coffeehouse's theme will go beyond the merely visual.

Reyth said that ocean sounds accompanied by classical music will be played in the background and a salt-sea air freshener, made by Aire-Master, will be used to evoke the ocean-side atmosphere.

They said the ambiance and the size of the space will set The Lighthouse apart from other local coffeehouses, but it may be the entertainment that creates the biggest difference.

"We're planning on getting bigger bands, not just local talent but nationwide, nation-known bands," Reyth said.

Nichols and Reyth plan to create a family-type atmosphere during lunch and dinner hours, then a healthy night-life scene after dark to draw the college students.

"SMS is six blocks away ... as soon as the sun goes down in this area, it just explodes with night life," Nichols said.

Reyth noted that this venue will be smoke- and alcohol-free.

"We've come across a lot of people that want to go out, but they don't want to go to the bar," he said.

When all is complete, Nichols said, the coffeehouse will seat about 130 people and he'll employee around 10 or 15.

They plan to open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and at midnight or 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. The coffeehouse will be closed on Sundays.

The menu will include homemade pastries, made by Reyth's wife Theresa, and soup, sandwiches and pasta dishes.

The two added that they are working on some catchy names for their drink specialties.

"We've got a lot of ideas, but we want something that stays with our theme," Nichols said.

Their signature drink, The Fog Bank, is a shot of espresso in white chocolate coffee "to clear the fog in the morning," Reyth said. They also will do coffee-flavored shakes and fruit smoothies.

Kellett said it's a great spot for a coffeehouse and he thinks it will do well.

"It's a great location," he said. "It's in an area that is still underdeveloped, but hopefully there will be other business in the near future that go into the other vacant buildings on West Walnut."

Nichols seems to think so.

"The downtown area has been needing rejuvenation for a while," he said. "Now with the Jordan Creek project going in ... I think over the course of the next three to five years, all of Walnut will be completely redone. I think these are tremendous opportunities for us and others. It will really turn around."