MANAWA – Construction is underway downtown to transform a vacant South Bridge Street property into a new coffee shop and lounge.
Jean and Jake Seeger purchased the former garage at 306 S. Bridge St. last year and have been renovating it for their new business, Garage @ 306. The coffee shop and lounge will be Jean Seeger’s second downtown business. She has owned the Hello Beautiful boutique, located kitty-corner from the new site, for 10 years.
Seeger said initial work on the new business last summer was cosmetic, focusing on clearing out old debris and tearing down interior drywall. Major construction began this spring following a lengthy state architectural review and permit process.
The Seegers have taken a hands-on approach to the project. The couple did the initial interior demolition and cleanup themselves, with Jake doing the heavy lifting of removing the old roof, replacing wood that had gone bad and tearing down a damaged exterior wall. Local contractors have since stepped in to assist with pouring concrete footings and erecting a new addition.
The venue is designed to blend nostalgic elements of the original garage with modern amenities. The front garage doors will be replaced with glass roll-up doors, opening into a bright seating area. Inside the main entrance, visitors will find two restrooms and a newly cut opening leading into the main lounge.
A new exterior wall is being built to replace the old wall that was torn down and will feature a service window that connects the lounge to the new addition, which will house the coffee service area and a kitchen behind it.
Above the addition, a second-story loft space is being constructed to provide extra seating for community groups and meetings. The Seegers are also building a small rooftop patio over one of the garage doors on the existing structure.
“We wanted to keep the old building as much as possible because it is nostalgic and people love it,” Seeger said.
Currently, the interior is framed with 2-by-4 wooden studs. Seeger said she expects to get a better feel for the layout and seating configurations once the building is fully enclosed.
Seeger said the name Garage @ 306 was selected to give the venue a versatile identity that extends beyond a traditional coffee shop. The Seegers hope to use the space for private gatherings, live music and community pop-up markets.
“I guess I didn’t want to tie it just to coffee because we’re hoping to be able to rent out the space for parties and have evening things,” Seeger said. “I wanted to create a destination.”
The upcoming venue has already generated significant excitement in the community. Seeger, who was born and raised in Manawa, said she has been deeply touched by the response.
“The community is amazing,” she said. “I’m overwhelmed in the best way possible with all of the support and love.”
The Seegers hope to open Garage @ 306 later this year or in early 2027, but a firm opening date has not been set as construction continues.
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