KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Downtown Keene’s restaurant scene is about to get a warm, inviting addition this spring with the opening of the Yellow Bell Café.

The “breakfast, brunch, and bar” concept comes from local restaurateur Adam Berube, known for his success with his Fireworks Restaurant and Muse Bistro eateries. Berube is expanding his culinary footprint with a venue aimed at cozy breakfasts and gourmet donuts, inspired by the nostalgia of home-cooked meals at his grandmother’s house.

For Berube, the concept of the Yellow Bell Café is deeply personal. Named after the yellow curtains in his grandmother’s dining room and her collection of “hundreds” of bells. the café is designed to evoke warmth and familiarity. It’s also the name of a flower, Berube found out recently.

“Imagine waking up at your grandma’s house on a Sunday morning, with the smell of breakfast wafting through the air,” Berube said. “That’s the feeling we want to recreate—a cozy, cottage-core vibe with Cape Cod aesthetics.” Decor plans include comfortable banquette seating for about 60 guests, invoking a relaxed, homey atmosphere.

While gourmet donuts will be a cornerstone of the Yellow Bell Café’s offerings, the focus is on a full-service dining experience. The menu, crafted in collaboration with chef Rebecca Wheeler, includes farm-fresh eggs, pancakes, French toast, and signature plates like corned beef hash and huevos rancheros. For those on the go, grab-and-go options like hot breakfast sandwiches, fresh pastries, yogurt parfaits, and specialty beverages will be available at the counter.

The donut lineup promises variety, with yeast and cake donuts featuring signature flavors such as tiramisu, limoncello, and peanut butter and jelly. These will rotate seasonally, ensuring fresh surprises for regulars.

“We want the donuts to be a highlight but not the first thing we roll out,” Berube said. “Our focus is on creating a full-service breakfast experience.”

The Yellow Bell Café will also feature a full bar, offering signature cocktails like bottomless mimosas and inventive Bloody Marys. Specialty coffee and tea selections will cater to morning patrons, while lunch options, including market salads, daily soups, and sandwiches, round out the café’s offerings.

Operating from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Monday, Berube envisions the café as a hub for morning and mid-day diners without competing with Keene’s existing coffee shops and diners.

The journey to opening the Yellow Bell Café began serendipitously last fall. After discussions with his husband, Armando Rangel, who has a background in finance and HR, the pair realized Keene needed a dedicated breakfast spot. “It just made sense,” Berube said.

Having worked at Fireworks for over a decade before opening Muse Bistro, Berube is no stranger to the restaurant industry. However, he’s learned valuable lessons about balancing complementary concepts.

“My biggest competition is myself,” he admitted. “This time, we’re being strategic to ensure the menu and atmosphere are distinct from Fireworks and Muse.”

The café’s location, formerly Yahso Jamaican Grille, carries a bit of history. Berube recently learned from landlord Mitch Greenwald that the space was home to Bon Ton, a restaurant in the 1940s. Coincidentally, Bon Ton’s original doors now serve as the French doors at Fireworks, tying the story together.

With renovations underway and an anticipated opening this March, Berube is eager to welcome the community to his new venture. “Cheers to new beginnings!” he wrote on Facebook. “We’re thrilled to bring delicious breakfast and brunch, grab-and-go options, and, of course, our signature hospitality to downtown Keene.”