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📸 Credit: Geneva Chamber of Commerce
A new café with a literary feel has officially arrived in downtown Geneva.
Storybook Cafe celebrated its upcoming opening with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Geneva Chamber of Commerce on December 18 at its new home in the Dodson Courtyard, 407 S. Third Street, Suite 150.
Owners Nighum Abbas and Sara Vora were joined by family, friends, chamber ambassadors, and Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns for the celebration. While the ribbon cutting marked an early milestone, the café’s public grand opening is set for December 21.
Key things to know
Grand opening date: Storybook Cafe officially opens to the public on December 21 in downtown Geneva.
What’s on the menu: The cafe focuses on ceremonial-grade matcha, specialty coffee, and artisan pastries baked fresh daily.
Thoughtful sourcing: Matcha is sourced directly from Japan, with coffee beans selected from sustainable, fair-trade farms.
Central location: The cafe sits just steps from the downtown Geneva train station in the heart of 3rd Street, making it an easy stop for commuters and visitors in addition to local residents.
Abbas said Geneva stood out as the right fit thanks to its strong support for small businesses, steady foot traffic along Third Street, and the welcoming feel of the historic Dodson Courtyard.
Inside, Storybook Cafe is designed as a flexible community space. The owners hope it becomes a place where families and friends can linger, students and professionals can focus, and neighbors can gather for book clubs, children’s readings, and other local events.
The matcha-forward menu is inspired by Abbas’ experience in Kyoto, where she learned how different high-quality matcha can be from what’s typically available in suburban cafes.
“Unlike coffee, matcha provides a slow, sustained release of caffeine throughout the day, making it a great option for those who struggle with the jitters that coffee can cause, Abbas said. “It’s also an aesthetically pleasing drink and pairs wonderfully with a variety of flavors.”
Looking ahead, the owners say they want to actively collaborate with other local businesses through shared marketing, event sponsorships, and community partnerships. They’re also exploring the idea of launching a Storybook Cafe podcast that would spotlight Geneva entrepreneurs and help tell the stories behind local businesses.
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