Get your java here: Coffeehouses brewing in downtown Belleville

David Cox said he knows that, among locals, downtown didn't always have the best reputation, and he's excited for its comeback.

Cox, a 43-year-old attorney, and his wife, Andrea Cox, moved to Belleville two years ago from Athens, Ga. Since then, the couple have renovated a historic home on South Charles Street and bought a building on West Main Street that will become Oregon Trail Roasting Co., the next of several coffeehouses brewing downtown.

"It takes an outsider to see what can be in Belleville," said Andrea Cox, 45, owner of the new coffeehouse, who emigrated from Austria 22 years ago.

The couple fancies themselves part of the new coffee destination that downtown is quickly becoming.

From east to west on Main Street, the following cafes also serve specialty coffee: Pie Pantry at 310 E. Main St.; Mosaics on Main at 124 E. Main St.; St. Louis Bread Co. at 113 E. Main St.; Jones Java at 104 E. Main St.; and Acoustik Kafe at 1015 W. Main St. Caffe Avanti will open possibly by March in the Writers' Lofts downtown.

But the Coxes insist their business will be different. For one, it will be the only cafe downtown to roast its own beans, and it will sell only fair trade and organic coffees.

Also, Andrea Cox, a carpenter, will craft Austrian pastries she says can't be found anywhere else in Belleville. She already has charmed Mayor Mark Eckert, a self-proclaimed "big fan of strudel," with her apple variety of the European pastry that she sent to City Hall.

Oregon Trail won't be open until spring, but Andrea Cox hopes that by next week, the business will be delivering orders. The staff will deliver in person to businesses and by mail to individuals. To place an order, go to oregontrailroasting.com

The saturation of coffee shops -- soon there will be seven downtown -- is good for business, the Coxes and other business owners say.

Outside of downtown, other Belleville coffeehouses include Riley's Coffee and Fudge at 1900 Lebanon Ave. and The Abbey at 6500 W. Main St.

Maureen Morris, president of the nonprofit Citizens Reviving Historic Belleville, said so many of the same businesses in a small area could be a bad thing.

"Somebody's going to lose business," Morris said. She said what's lacking downtown are grocery stores, steakhouses and Italian restaurants.

But Mosaics on Main owner Kathy Mordini doesn't worry about the competition; each coffee business has something different to offer. Soon, at Mosaics, she'll begin selling stone oven pizzas.

Helen Jones, the owner of Jones Java, caters to a "younger generation" and dishes out free popcorn via a popper in the dining room.

David Cox sees downtown emerging as the city's coffee destination.

"Successful coffee shops have a warm, womb-like feeling, and you want to stay there forever," David Cox said. "We want to be that place."

Contact reporter Laura Girresch at lgirresch@bnd.com or 239-2507.