WALLINGFORD — Since she has been working in the service industry for years, Amanda DeLuca decided now would be the perfect time to open her own café.
“I’ve done everything from bartending to brunch service,” DeLuca said. “I found myself recently divorced and decided that it was time to go after my dream of owning my own place. Because I have two children, this just really fits the mold for not having to work evenings, but still remain in the service industry.”
DeLuca, 35, plans to open Café Luca Belle at 169 Center St. in about three weeks. The process has taken about 10 months so far.
“We really started demo in April/May and it’s been difficult finding people to move the process along,” DeLuca said.
DeLuca’s mother is her interior designer and has been helping her choose colors, furniture and decorations.
“We just really want to make a comfortable environment where people want to sit and do their work or do their homework and, you know, stay awhile and actually drink coffee out of a porcelain cup and not just always be on the go,” DeLuca said.
Kouign Bakery on North Colony Road will provide the pastries for Café Luca Belle. DeLuca is also looking to see if she can work with Bagelicious in Cheshire. The coffee is coming from Downeast Coffee Roasters, which is based in Warwick, Rhode Island. She will be selling cold brew coffee and various espresso drinks.
“They focus on some really great single origin coffees that I am happy to bring in,” DeLuca said. “… I definitely want to have a great rotating list of newer coffees … Any type of espresso drink, really higher end flavor lines. I want to go slowly into it.”
DeLuca is going to work with Wallingford Center Inc. to promote her new business.
“We’re glad to have her,” said Liz Davis, executive director of Wallingford Center Inc. “We’re so glad she is coming in and going to have a new face on the street, which is great.”
DeLuca named her shop, Café Luca Belle, after her two children, Luca and Isabelle. She said the location at the corner of Center and South Orchard Street is “perfect.”
“Center Street is really starting to be an up and coming area,” DeLuca said. “... It’s just a really great spot.”
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