Ion Grove launches grab-and-go food

SAVOY — While no one likes getting stuck with flight delays, one local business hopes to make the wait a little sweeter.

Ion Grove Café, located at Willard Airport, launched grab-and-go food sales over the weekend, which proved to be quite busy, said co-founder Phil Rowell.

“We have had a few aircraft delays, and just knowing that people have access to food and drink has been helpful,” he said, adding that they’ve also sold a lot of books as well.

The café had a soft opening in mid-July and is located in the airport’s boarding area, in a space that formerly housed Einstein Bros. Bagels. Part of its mission is to highlight local businesses.

In addition to food from vendors such as Central Illinois Bakehouse, Industrial Donut and CBPB, the shop also has an “extensive drink selection,” Rowell said. He estimated that they’ll have brewed coffee available in a couple of weeks.

However, the shop’s coffee-serving robot will likely not be up and running until late fall.

“We’re just finishing the approvals with the public health department about the behind the scenes mechanics of how the robot will work and operate,” Rowell said. “We do have some construction to do. ... Once we do that, it’ll take eight weeks for the robot to be configured. They’re based in Las Vegas. They do all their work out there, and then they will fly in and install it.”

Once the robot is installed, Ion Grove plans to invite the community to a “grand opening celebration,” he added.

Additionally, while grab-and-go food is now available, not everything on the menu at iongrovecafe.com is being sold at the shop just yet.

Rowell said that the café is “just starting to ramp up” its menu and will share updates on social media as it adds more food items, as well as additional retail offerings.

“We’re really growing with it,” he said. “We don’t want to put everything out at once. We really want to make sure it’s a measured approach. But it’s been good so far to see how the community has responded.”