New Café Feeds Community Delicious Fare & Connection

Having only recently marked its sixth week of operation, Village Art Café in Hillsborough is filling a niche in a community that has welcomed them with open arms. Founder Christine "Chris" Carr's goal in creating the Village was to meld art, music, business and community in a collaborative space where Hillsborough and other nearby town residents could connect and work together. Their lease of the building began only last October, and after six-plus months of cleaning, cosmetic work and preparing the commercial kitchen, the space was ready to open. A Deering resident, Carr had a longtime corporate career before relocating to New Hampshire about five or so years ago in an attempt to "unwind from the Boston scene," she said. After a business contract had her driving throughout the Monadnock Region on the hunt for clients, she observed that the need for regaining community connection was stronger than the desire for improved technology. Along the way, she met Paula Kerouac, an artist and her "partner in crime" in the Village, and the idea for a collaborative coffee shop and art space was born. In Deering, it was a long drive to find a local coffee shop. There was a hole to fill that was only amplified by the isolation created by the pandemic. "Why can't we create a space that brings people back together?" was the question, she said. Stumbling upon the available lease space made it all come together, and with a background in incubating and small business acceleration, Carr had the skillset to make the project a reality, along with a crew of about 10 to 20 others jumping aboard. The key, she said, was making sure it's a place for all generations and walks of life, from teens to moms with young children and seniors. "It's been tough for that town," she said of Hillsborough. "There are a lot of people trying to bring it back to a thriving area. They want to do something and have a place to connect with other people." It turns out that food is a great place to start. The café has been buzzing for breakfast and lunch since it opened, offering a delectable selection of local and homemade menu items and baked goods. They focus on family recipes and classics like blueberry muffins, maple scones and almond cake. Kerouac makes beautiful mini-quiches and substantial hand pies that can heat-and-go for busy eaters. And of course, there's the coffee, iced and hot. A local favorite is Carr's creation called "Chrissy's Maple Cream," that's topped with a maple whipped cream (she has an admitted sweet tooth). They have a daily gluten-free option as well, and June Holm, owner of Dollar Shy Farm in Deering, supplies the cafe with amazing gluten-free English muffins that are especially loved. The small group of cooks and bakers are dedicated to creating a menu that serves everyone. Locals, she said, are touched that there is now an old-fashioned place to eat and gather. In addition to the coffee shop, the Village Art community includes art classes and a studio with six instructors, an art retail space with 10 vendors, a co-working space with Wi-Fi, a rentable commercial kitchen, event rental space that seats 59 and a couple of local businesspeople offering their services out of the building. "It's really blown up," Carr said. "It's a creative space with a lot going on." On Fridays, they offer a "Senior Day" from 1 to 4 p.m. when older citizens can access the studio to create whatever they want with a $5 donation. "There are so many accomplished people in this region but they're all in their houses," Carr said of the isolation she's observed. She's seen that when curious folks stop in to check the space out, they usually stay around for a while. While the rapid growth is rewarding, she said the goal is for the operation to sustain itself and to be able to continue far into the future. She doesn't expect a windfall and knows her best hope is to break even. In the meantime, she's enjoying the opportunity to work with a group of invested people who are trying to breathe new life into the Hillsborough community with a rallying cheer of "C'mon, Hillsborough! You can do it!" She has immense gratitude for Kerouac and the other key players in the effort, including Susana Miles, June Holm and Diana Duffany, as well as her adored husband Dan Guillou. These types of connections are truly the heart of Village Art Café. "It's a gift," she said of all the people. "I've fallen in love with this little town." Village Art Café is located at 17 West Main St. in Hillsborough and the coffee shop is open Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Classes go later into the afternoon and evenings. For more information, visit thevillagecommunity.co or follow on Facebook for events and updates at facebook.com/ChristineCarrVillageArtCafe.