American Harvest restaurant closes chapter

“Nine years ago today, two bright,
optimistic 23-year-old chefs set out on a mission to create a
restaurant very different from anything else in Springfield.” So
began an announcement from chef Aurora Coffey about the decision to
shut down American Harvest Eatery as it has been known for nearly a
decade. Of course, the restaurant was already closed to diners due to
the stay-at-home order meant to stem the spread of the new
coronavirus. But now it’s been decided customers won’t be returning
to sit down to a meal in the current location on the west side of
town, off Iles Avenue. “When you next eat our food, drink our
cocktails, and greet our staff it will be in a new home,” her announcement said.

Aurora’s husband and head chef,
Jordan Coffey, was set to take full ownership, but instead will cut
ties with the current landlords. Jordan was mentored by chef Augie
Mrozowski, of Augie’s Front Burner in downtown Springfield, who owned the business and had
planned to transfer it fully to Jordan. “Trying to negotiate with
the current landlord is just very difficult, and very disheartening,”
says Mrozowski. The Coffeys say the cost of rent is now
unsustainable, and their landlords weren’t willing to work with
them on finances in light of the pandemic. They’re not going to
renew the lease that ends in May.

But optimism remains. The chef couple say they will keep cooking takeout meals through May, though the availability may be limited. With a second child due
this summer, they could use some time to nest and rest. One thing
that is clear is the passion of their followers. “I don’t think
we could express our gratitude enough,” says Aurora. When it comes
to staff and clientele, “It becomes truly family, as corny as that
is.” She says there has been an outpouring of gratitude since the
announcement late Tuesday.

The young chefs source local ingredients and create inspired small plates, cocktails,
entrees and desserts. “We began
with a menu that featured locally sourced American comfort foods and
refined it into an ever-changing menu that highlights clean simple
flavors and creativity, dependent on seasonality and the beauty of
our community’s bounty,” wrote Aurora in the announcement shared
on social media. The couple had worked as chefs in Chicago and have
been widely acclaimed, often earning Illinois Times “Best
Of” awards and winning a meeting with celebrity chef Rick Bayless
at a 2018 competition in Champaign.

Springfield fans of the fare shouldn’t fret about the chances of once again tasting their creations,
says Aurora. “We will be back in some shape or form when the time
is right.” Mrozowski says his kitchen is open to them should they
need a place to work once restaurants can reopen. Having long owned
his building, he’s planning to ride out this storm. But even for
the owner of one of Springfield’s most revered and longest-running
restaurants, Mrozowski says, “I’ve never seen anything quite like
this. It’s taxing. Mentally, it’s a challenge to figure out what
you’re going to do.”

Wrote Aurora on social media, “You
find people really ‘show themselves’ during a crisis and our
landlords just helped us make a decision to move on because they will
never be compassionate or understanding humans but strictly moneymen.
We got to see that a future with them was unnecessary and unfruitful
to anyone but them.”

The Coffeys have worked countless hours
to run a restaurant that created not just creative cuisine but community.
“The terrain of restaurants is about to change entirely,” said
Aurora, echoing concerns that even when establishments begin to
reopen to diners, business will not be the same. And they plan to adapt to those
changes, and rebuild.

Contact Rachel Otwell at
rotwell@illinoistimes.com.

This article appears in Pandemic rocks the capital city.