Steep & Spice Tea Lounge + Crêperie closing Sunday in downtown Kankakee

Downtown Kankakee business Steep & Spice Tea Lounge + Crêperie's last day of service will be this Sunday, Nov. 17.

Owners Elizabeth and Antonio Talaga announced the closure in a Facebook post on Nov. 4 following the tough decision.

The business, which opened its brick-and-mortar at 223 S. West Ave. in mid-June earlier this year, began in 2021 when the couple started as a vendor at local farmers' markets, including Kankakee and Frankfort.

"When we decided to open a full-time operation here in Kankakee, we did so because we had fallen in love with the community," Elizabeth Talaga said.

"We have been incredibly blessed to be supported by all parties — sometimes failure happens even with all the support in the world," she wrote in the post. "While we are devastated to be making this announcement, we wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has lifted us up along the way."

Steep & Spice will operate normal hours through Nov. 17. They are open today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

While food service will cease Nov. 17, the business is hoping to sell equipment and furniture before Dec. 1. Email or message the Facebook page, Steep & Spice.

The Mindful CommuniTEA event on Nov. 20 will still take place at 7 p.m. as a final farewell.

Get tickets for the guided meditation event, led by the Om Well Collective's Beth Rockert and Jeanna Vent Fodor, at www.steepandspicewestave.com/meditation-event or walk-ins welcome.

"Thank you again to all who have made our dream possible, however brief it was," Elizabeth wrote. "We are eternally grateful for this experience and look forward to the next chapter on the other side of the counter."