Close To Closure, Barnegat Coffee Shop Rises And Remodels

BARNEGAT, NJ — Bill and Natercia Clanton lived their dream and brought something unique to Barnegat. Delights Artisan Café gave the township a one-stop shop for tea, coffee, baked goods and a lounge atmosphere with couches, armchairs and a piano.

Just as they hit their groove, the coronavirus pandemic hit New Jersey, making their indoor space unusable for months. Looking at tens of thousands in debt, the Clanton's faced a decision: call it quits, or find some way to keep the dream alive.

"We ended up leaving the place with considerable debt," Bill Clanton told Patch. "But I’m not the type to just run away, and bankruptcy was not an option. I don’t believe in filing for bankruptcy."

The found a way. The eatery will reopen in a new spot with a new name: Delights Coffee and Bake Shop. They hope to open at 237 S. Main St. in early November, while continuing to pay the debt from their former location.

It won't be the same as the café, which opened late last year and permanently closed in September. But in some ways, that's better for the Clanton's.

Bill Clanton did some research when they figured out their next steps. He and some friends realized that Barnegat could use a bakery. The family found an opportunity to open a new shop, with considerably cheaper rent, that put their baked goods in the forefront.

Natercia Clanton is from Portugal and grew up in Newark, where diners can find several Portuguese bakeries and cafés, especially in the Ironbound neighborhood. Bill and Natercia shared a dream of setting up a shop.

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After a few years of catering, they also opened the café. But the new bake shop at 237 S Main St. will more closely resemble those old-fashioned Portuguese bakeries and coffee shops in Newark.

They also designed the new location with coronavirus restrictions in mind. There's less emphasis on the indoor ambience, but Delights will still have space to eat, drink and hang out. Plus there's more room for outdoor activities.

"We’re already talking to the landlord about putting in a fire pit and being able to do some outdoor events," Bill Clanton said. "Even though it’s cold, we’ll still do some events outside."

Come springtime, the landscaped area will give Delights the opportunity to host events such as outdoor parties and movie showings.

Delights will stick with some of its strengths: baked goods, gourmet coffee and espresso- based drinks. And they'll also bring in high-quality bread from Staten Island and Portuguese specialties from Newark.

The coronavirus nearly ended the family's dream, but now it's arguably more alive than ever.

"We’re taking that true cafe where you get a cup of coffee, meet up with people, talk about news of the day and grab a scone or pastry," Bill Clanton said. "That’s really falling in line with our dream."

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