Pictured: Louie_s Bistro is named after ow ner Jennifer Pope’s late father (right) who was a retired firefighter and head firehouse cook.

Louie’s Bistro, offering made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch entrées, opens Friday, July 29, in the award-winning Wellen Park Welcome Center. The bistro, operated by the proprietors of Venice Island Coffee, features family recipes, southern-style dishes and reflects the small-town Kentucky and West Virginia hospitality of owners Jennifer and Corey Pope and their three children. Named after Jennifer Pope’s late father, Louie, a retired firefighter and head firehouse cook, the bistro will have a soft opening July 29 with a grand opening planned later in the year. The menu features some of Venice Island Coffee’s popular selections, including omelets, breakfast sandwiches, grilled Taylor pork Jersey rolls and its locally roasted proprietary coffee blend, as well as many new made-in-house options like biscuits and gravy, hashbrown casserole and southern-inspired tuna salad with pickle relish and eggs, according to Jennifer Pope. As a multigenerational gathering spot for the local and regional community – as well as the Pope family – the restaurant will have on-tap cold nitro-brewed coffee and kombucha. The bistro also features coffee from Tampa-based mom-and-pop Java Planet, as well as flavored blends from other brands. It will eventually offer mimosas, sangria, wine and beer and host special dinners and live music on the patio overlooking Downtown Wellen. With seating for about 50, including a coffee bar, the bistro offers a cozy, comfortable ambience with photos of Louie, firefighting equipment and a lamp he created from a fire extinguisher. Louie’s Bistro is located in the Wellen Park Welcome Center, which won the prestigious 2022 gold award as the Best Community Welcome Center in the U.S. from the National Association of Home Builders. The bistro joins a growing number of retail boutiques, restaurants, beauty services, medical and professional offices in Wellen Park’s developing downtown, the vibrant central hub and gathering place for residents and the region.To learn more about living at Wellen Park, call 941-960-7805, go to wellenpark.com or visit the Welcome Center at 12275 Mercado Drive in Venice, Fla. The Welcome Center is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pictured: Louie_s Bistro is named after ow ner Jennifer Pope’s late father (right) who was a retired firefighter and head firehouse cook.