Pege Christian Cafe & Bookstore

Pégé Christian Café & Bookstore will provide freshly roasted coffee, innovative specialty drinks, paired with a fresh cafe menu.  Our Christian bookstore component will offer faith-based resources, novelties, study space, and events all provided in a Christ-focused, family-oriented atmosphere.  Pégé is the answer to an increasing demand for faith based business, events, and fellowship in downtown Springfield, IL.

Our state capital is home to over 150 churches, 80 faith-based organizations and associations, and 18 private faith-based schools.  However, there is not a single Christian bookstore, or Christian coffee shop.  

One of the biggest desires of local Christian youth and young adults is a need for a fellowship space.  One where they can build community across church boundaries in an environment that is both trendy and faith-filled.   With increasing concerns regarding trafficking, crime, and social pressures, young adults, parents, and the community are searching for more positive events that aren't associated with bars or limited to restaurants.  Currently, Springfield does not have any venues, that offer faith-based events, or youth specific activities not specific to a church.

We expect our strongest market to be Christians who live in the Springfield area, members of the 150 churches in the Springfield community and surrounding areas, and the students and parents of the 18 faith-based private schools.  

There are 211,700 residents living in the Springfield Metropolitan area, and of those, there are 112,000 self-identified Christians in the city of Springfield.  This does not include the surrounding areas or townships located within Sangamon County such as Jerome, Leland Grove, Southern View, etc.  In addition, there are 150 active Christian churches in the City of Springfield, with an average attendance of 37%.  Meaning, that roughly 82,560 Christians attend church on Saturdays and/or Sundays. Of the various schools that will be utilizing the bookstore for various supplies or reading materials, there are also those high school students and their parents who will be supporting the café, teen space, and event nights that are certain to draw in a crowd.  Currently, there are over 900 enrolled high school students at the various faith-based private high schools.  Target marketing and partnerships with these schools, along with discounts for students who show their student IDs, as well as exemplary report cards, will provide for a solid foundation of growth with both students, teachers, administrators, and parents. 

65% of the Springfield population makes over $40,000 per year, and 80% of the total earns their income from a salaried position, equating to a higher plausibility for job security. 

Tourism is also a major market segment and not just because Springfield is the state capital.  Although tourism to the Land of Lincoln brings in over $338 million in additional revenue to Sangamon County, Illinois has a majority of citizens who believe in God! With a population of 12.8 million, 61% of Illinoisans believe in God with absolute certainty. That equates to over 8.7 million believers as potential customers in their tourist travels throughout our great state. 

Funding will be used for the initial capital injection required to secure the SBA funding through Newtek Small Business Finance.