About Longbranch
Over the past twenty years, our staff of eight has blossomed into thirty-three as we've grown from a coffeehouse to a café and bakery that serves handmade vegetarian food and kick-butt pastries. We offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week, with an organic juice bar, fair trade, organic coffee bar and two teeming cases of home-baked pastries. Recently we've upped our healthy game and added power bowls and gluten-free and vegan options to our menu. The Illinois Department of Tourism has designated us a Delicious Destination, but we still think of ourselves as just a local joint.
Our Community
Over the years, not only have we grown our business, we have worked on many initiatives to build our greater community. We're considered a major art space and proudly feature a revolving array of local artists. Our block, which is located on the north side of Carbondale’s Historic Town Square, is the hippest part of town offering two restaurants, two bars, an advertising agency, a Mexican grocery store and an organic grocery store “The Town Square Market." We support local causes that range from the Women’s Center to Food Works. We also host the annual For Kids’ Sake Art Auction to help raise funds for orphanages and schools in Bangladesh.
“Farm to Table, Local, Organic, Vegan, Gluten-Free"
Our Food
We make virtually everything by hand at the Longbranch. Even our soysage patties, veggie burgers and burger buns. Whenever possible, we use organic and locally grown products that support sustainable agriculture. Our sister business, the Town Square Market (TSM), is just down the block and supplies us organic ingredients. Our general manager trained at Gottessegen, an anthroposophical bakery in Dortmund, Germany, so that we could create authentic organic sourdough bread and pastry for TSM. There's also a whole host of things that you won't find on our menu like GMOs and high-fructose corn syrup and styrofoam. We're keeping it real.
Preserving the History
The Longbranch Café & Bakery has a long and colorful history. Located on the “Levee” between the east and west side of town, the Longbranch is the meeting point of our diverse community. When we bought it in 1998, the Longbranch was a smoky coffeehouse serving coffee and cookies to students and professors in residence. We have spent years striving to re-enliven the Old Downtown and Historic Town Square District. The Longbranch is more than just a coffeehouse. We are a values-driven business working to build community by providing the best food available using the most sustainable practices.
