THE FOLLOWING STORY (AND PICTURE ABOVE) ARE BY THE NEWS-GAZETTE’S JENNIFER BAILEY

Among the questions asked of our Jennifer Bailey for this week’s Bailey Buzz (drop in a question of your very own BY CLICKING HERE or by emailing jbailey@news-gazette.com).

When is Lelo’s Cafe on Henning Road opening?

I received this question last week and found out the restaurant opened on Tuesday this week.

Owner Rich Imeri said their opening day was “very good.”

Lelo’s Cafe serves breakfast and lunch. It’s open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

“For the future, you never know,” Imeri said about possibly expanding the hours.

He said the menu is similar and a little different from his other Rich’s restaurants in Danville, Tilton and Ogden.

Lelo’s, named after his grandson, has some different panini sandwiches and omelets with spinach and other fresh ingredients, Imeri said.

He said he brought over a couple employees from his other restaurants and hired some new too.

“I’m covered good for now,” Imeri said of employees.

It was in June 2024, when a Bailey Buzz question asked about the former Henk’s Bait and Bite Cafe building being sold. Kathy and Gary Henk opened Henk’s Bait and Bite at 302 N. Henning Road in 2007, which formerly was Leisure Time Bait and Tackle. The Henks closed their restaurant in 2021.

This is Imeri’s fifth restaurant. Imeri, of St. Joseph and originally Macedonia, and his family own Rich’s Family Restaurants in Tilton and Ogden, and Rich’s Deluxe Restaurant in downtown Danville and Ela’s Eatery on Voorhees Street in Danville.

Ela is Rich’s granddaughter. When Ela’s name was used for that restaurant, Imeri looked to open another restaurant with his grandson’s name.

It took Imeri longer than he thought to open the restaurant. He had hoped to open it late last year. The inside was renovated with new booths and tables.

FOR COMPLETE ACCESS TO NEWS-GAZETTE STORY PLEASE GO TO https://www.news-gazette.com/business/lelos-cafe-long-awaited-opening-very-good/article_a4f2e7b4-d8de-11ef-8f0f-d7d31a71171e.html