Rainbow Connection Cafe co-owner David McCauley works behind the counter on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — In spite of only opening Lilah Restaurant last December, owners Connie and Joe Heyer couldn’t ignore the opportunity presented to them when Lellybelle Community Cafe closed and was put on the market this summer. The Heyers immediately put an offer in, and began brainstorming ideas for the kind of restaurant they wanted to open up in the new location, which was almost directly across the street from Lilah Restaurant.

Once their offer was accepted, the Heyers began putting their plans into motion, but first — they decided to run the business a little differently, by bringing in another couple as co-owners. David McCauley and Rhiannon Biedzynski had become fast friends with the Heyers, after meeting for the first time at Lilah Restaurant in Jan. 2021. The two couples’ love for good food and community togetherness, as well as their concern over the number of pandemic-related closing businesses, made it easy for McCauley and Biedzynski to agree to join the Heyers’ new venture.

On Sept. 25, Rainbow Connection Cafe held a soft opening for the community. For that day and the following week, the cafe only accepted orders from one portion of its menu. On Monday, the cafe was able to finally branch out, to allow customers to order from the entire menu, which includes a variety of options for those both with and without dietary restrictions, such as veganism and vegetarianism.

“The community has a lot of vegan and vegetarian members. Pretty much, we wanted what we served to be catered to the community,” Biedzynski said, mentioning this consideration was made, in spite of none of the owners being vegan or vegetarian. “So far, the community’s been very supportive.”

The cafe and coffee bar’s food options cover a wide range of tastes, ranging from açaí bowls to baked goods. Biedzynski’s top recommendations for customers to try are the Quiche Lorraine, Nuts & Bolts smoothie, the Maui Sunrise smoothie and the Bougie Chicken Salad/Sandwich. For vegans, her favorite option is the All Vegan Everything Breakfast Sandwich.

People check out Shepherdstown’s new cafe and coffee bar, located at 104 East German Street. Tabitha Johnston

“When we were trying out our menu, I made the All Vegan Everything Breakfast Sandwich. The vegan eggs, cheese and meat are really good!” Biedzynski said.

Those interested in indulging in rainbow-themed foods at the cafe have at least a couple of options, including rainbow cake and rainbow bagels.

According to Connie Heyer, the cafe’s decor and atmosphere was inspired by the song, “Rainbow Connection,” from “The Muppet Movie.” Along with being outfitted with a variety of rainbow-themed artwork and furnishings, the restaurant was created with the intention of turning it into a comfortable, safe space for community members to hang out at. The shape of the curved rainbow in the cafe’s emblem makes reference to, not only the song, but also the WiFi symbol, as the cafe offers high-speed WiFi to its customers. Each table in the cafe is located near a power outlet, which Connie said was inspired by the large number of Lilah Restaurant customers who would mention their need for power outlets, while visiting Shepherdstown.

A wide variety of board and card games are stored in the back room of the cafe, formerly an apartment space, which the owners hope customers will make use of, as they spend time in the cafe with their friends and family.

“It kind of fits Shepherdstown — it’s a place to meet other people and collaborate,” Connie said. “I think the students are especially enjoying it, because it gives them a place to hang out and a place to study, other than the library.”

The cafe owners expanded the original restaurant space back, to include what was formerly an apartment space. The expansion gives customers a third bathroom to use, as well as eventual access to a back patio space, which will soon be developed. Tabitha Johnston

Currently, the cafe is open, Wednesday through Monday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A 20 percent discount is available to college students at either of the Heyers’ restaurants. To learn more, visit https://rainbowconnectioncafe.net.

The cafe’s name was inspired by the song, “Rainbow Connection,” which was sung by Kermit the Frog in “The Muppet Movie.” An artistic rendering of the movie scene is one of the many rainbow-themed art pieces in the cafe. Tabitha Johnston

Frederick, Md. resident Joe McNamara, right, enjoys a meal in the Rainbow Connection Cafe with his daughter, Shepherd University sophomore Lou McNamara, on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston