Former Graham’s 318 Coffeehouse in Geneva for sale for $2.3M

The shuttered 318 Graham’s Coffeehouse property at 318 S. Third St., Geneva, is on the market for $2.3 million.

The original house was a bungalow built in 1918 which was turned into a coffeehouse in 2005, a second business run by Robert Untiedt, the late co-owner with his wife, Beckie, of Graham’s Fine Chocolates & Ice Cream, at 302 S. Third St.

It closed in April 2024.

The coffeehouse took off in popularity and always had something to celebrate.

In 2016, it hosted a “Gilmore Girls” event, turning into Luke’s Diner from the show and drawing 3,000 fans who lined up all the way down Third Street.

In 2017, it featured a “Stranger Things Season 2” event. They transformed the coffeehouse to look like scenes from the show, sold drinks and pastries following the show’s theme, and sold raffle tickets of the pilot script to raise money for TriCity Family Services.

They closed the coffeehouse in 2019 to start a major expansion, putting in a full kitchen, air conditioning, a second story, a basement and an elevator, more than doubling its size to 6,660 square feet.

“It was completely upgraded – right down to the studs – upstairs we added event space ... room for bridal and baby showers ... an outside patio ... a sprinkler system, built-in speakers with the capability of live music,” said Untiedt’s daughter, Jayni Wunderlich, CEO of Graham’s Fine Chocolates. “We honestly thought we’d be open forever.”

They opened a pop-up coffeeshop behind its chocolate shop, not only to keep it going, but to remind people to be excited about the renovation and its expansion, Wunderlich said.

In November 2019, the city approved a liquor license so the business could sell beer and wine – particularly so they could pair wine and chocolate, Robert Untiedt had said at the City Council meeting that night.

“We had all the approvals,” Wunderlich said. “And we heard about this virus, this COVID 19 coronavirus. It was just beginning to happen.”

They reopened the second week of February 2020 featuring homemade donuts, and full lunch and breakfast menus, in addition to being a venue for private parties and gatherings.

“We were slammed when we first opened,” Wunderlich said. “And three weeks later ... Around St. Patrick’s Day in March 2020, the world shut down, and my dad was diagnosed with cancer April 1.”

She had been working side-by-side with her father since she graduated college and suddenly she was running two businesses during a worldwide pandemic while her father was having surgeries.

“And when all this happened, my kids were 1, 3 and 4 years old,” Wunderlich said.

He rallied that summer, but ultimately the cancer metastasized and he died March 21, 2021.

“Once COVID hit, we realized this isn’t going to make it,” Wunderlich said. “My husband actually joined our business a year and a half ago before we closed. ‘Let’s see what we can do. Maybe we can do this.’ He saw the problems I was facing.”

It wasn’t just an issue of not making enough money to stay open, but as a family business, they had to understand their limitations, Wunderlich said. They decided to focus on the chocolate business, which has been open since 1987 and that was closer to her family’s passion.

When trying to rent the 318 property didn’t work, they put it on the market, she said.

“I miss it, of course,” Wunderlich said. “I hear all the time, people messaging us, ‘Please reopen.’ That’s the hardest part.”

Commercial brokers Sandra True and Jody Wendt co-listed the property.

“It’s a full-service restaurant,” True said. “It’s a big kitchen with an 18-foot hood, walk in freezers and coolers. It’s a beautiful building and has that country charm and flair to it. Hopefully somebody with a vision like Bob’s will put their concept in that nice renovated space.”