EAT IT AND WEEP: Rosie's Cafe opens inside Dunn's auction house

Ormond Beach Observer
Business

The new eatery will offer bagels, soups and sandwiches, and be open for lunch, as well as during night auctions.

BY EMILY BLACKWOOD | STAFF WRITER

Though Wes and Rosanne Dunn have been married for "a long time," that doesn't mean the romance is dead. In honor of his wife, Wes Dunn opened a cafe named after his sweetheart inside of Dunn's Attic and Auction House, at 136 W. Granada Blvd.

"I was very excited and honored, Rosanne Dunn of the new Rosie's Cafe said. "It was very sweet and very thoughtful."

The idea of opening a cafe inside of the auction house stemmed from the need for food during auction nights. But Rosie's will also be open during the day, for residents to stop in for a quick bite to eat.

"The response from the local community here was pretty tremendous, so we said, 'Skay there is a little bit of a void here,'" Wes Dunn said. "Great local restaurants but maybe something needed where someone can just stop in for a minute and get a little bite to eat or a drink."

Rosie's Cafe opened officially Nov. 22 and it sells "light fare," such as bagels, salads, soups and sandwiches. It is currently open 10 a.m until 4 p.m., but Wes Dunn said that hours are expected to extend until 6 p.m. The cafe also serves beer and wine, and the Dunns are currently planning a regular happy hour event.

"It was a progression based on what we kinda heard that people wanted," Wes Dunn said. "I think people like the idea of going to sit down and have a cup of coffee or tea and take a break. This is what that will do in a unique setting."

The Dunns also kept with their store's classic style when decorating Rosie's. A fountain sits in the middle of the cafe with a coy pond close by. The walls are decorated with local art, and a Santa statue made his landing in a hot air balloon, as well.

"We are going to be receptive to what the locals want, as far as menu items," Wes Dunn said. "But we don't have WiFi set up because we don't plan to be a Starbucks. We want to be a local hangout for people who like a five- to 10-minute break in between shopping or errands. We're going to be whatever the local community wants us to be."