Village Music Café Pairs Culture And Entertainment With Great Food And Drink

When it comes to music and business, timing is everything. For Steve and Donna Willey, owners of Village Music Café, that’s what makes both of them, and their business, tick.
“I just love this spot. It’s the perfect size and right at the entrance to the mall,” Donna Willey said.
This hometown treasure, now located near Barnes & Noble and Walgreens in the Shoppes at Wellington Green, first opened its doors in 2012 near Fresh Market. A few years later, not only did they need more room, but they also wanted to try a new concept, adding a café space to what was previously just a music store.
Located just one shopping plaza over, the new venue has brought a world of change, hitting a high note with both regulars and newcomers each week.
“We really see ourselves as a cultural center that brings the community together,” Donna said.
It’s a cultural center surrounded by the arts. It includes not only music lessons, live music, instrument sales and monthly exhibits by local artists, but it’s also all tied together with artisanal food. That food, along with various craft beers and wine, harmoniously set the stage for all things art.
“The stage is an integral part of what we wanted to do,” Donna explained. “Once we had that, we decided we needed to open this up to the community and bring in local artists. And that has become an extremely popular phenomenon. People love to come here and see local musicians play — and we get great talent here.”
That talent runs the gamut from jazz to rock, comedians to open mic nights, art exhibits to mixers, from the accomplished to those just starting out.
“During the day, it’s a hangout for parents while their kids are taking lessons. They grab a gourmet coffee or a snack while waiting. The kids will have a snack when they come out. In the evening, it turns into a place where the community hangs out,” Donna said.
A hangout filled with dark-toned bistro tables with high-backed seating along the back wall. Each month, paintings by local artists rotate, hanging throughout the space. A dim and relaxed atmosphere with sparkling tea lights dotting the tables create a calm ambiance, all while visitors nosh on some tasty eats.
For starters, there’s the Charcuterie Board for $20. It’s loaded with mixed meats and cheeses, including prosciutto, salami, serrano ham and capicola. Cheeses include white cheddar, port wine and smoked gouda. Marinated mozzarella balls, olives, artichokes, grapes and bread fill it all in. “We had a lot of input from different chefs that we worked with,” Donna said.
Other starters include hummus, ceviche, as well as fresh guacamole paired with homemade spinach tortilla chips for $8.
“Thursday through Saturday, we have a grill outside. On those nights, we have the full menu that includes New York strip steaks, pork chops, tacos and all kinds of fun stuff. The menu is constantly evolving,” Donna added.
From a gourmet cheeseburger, made with eight ounces of sirloin on a brioche bun served with homemade steak fries for $10, to grilled or blackened salmon with broccoli, for $13.
“It’s really having something nice to eat and a glass of wine to enjoy with the food,” Donna explained. “It’s not a place people come to drink, but people come to eat and listen to the music. It’s one of the reasons we get high-level musicians playing here, because they’re not background music. They are the focus.”
A large focus is also put on the selection of available craft beers and wines — from California wines to South American, New Zealand and more. “I had a vision of what I wanted. It came from all my time in Europe,” Donna said.
It’s in Europe that the couple originally met in 1987. Steve, a U.S. Army veteran, was stationed in Germany where Donna was in graduate school. Both had musical backgrounds. A year later, Steve was sent back to Texas, while Donna finished her studies. The two were separated, and they went on to marry others and start families.
But 23 years later, Donna got a message from Steve. At a time, both had been divorced. “He found me on Facebook, and we were reunited,” she recalled.
In that nearly quarter of a century, there was still music involved between the two. A love song that had been lost, still waiting to be heard.
“Steve had written a song called, ‘Donna Sweet Donna.’ An army buddy did a water painting and calligraphy with the lyrics. But I moved after our breakup and never got it. He assumed I just wasn’t interested anymore. He played it over the phone for me. So, that was the beginning,” Donna said.
Steve headed back to Germany to be with her. The two eventually moved to Boston, where they’re both originally from. “Boston is too cold, and Steve’s parents were down in Florida,” Donna explained.
Steve soon sold his music store in the northeast, and the search for a Florida location began, bringing them to Wellington.
It seems to have been written in the stars when they made that decision, as now they and others shine bright on the stage they created for a community of all generations and backgrounds, sharing a love of music accompanied by great food and drink.
Village Music Café is located at 10410 W. Forest Hill Blvd. near Walgreens in the Shoppes at Wellington Green. For additional information, call (561) 798-5334 or visit www.villagemusicwellington.com. Check online for weekly events and menu specials. Table reservations are recommended.

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