Owner of former Eclipse in Montevallo plans new coffee shop

Eclipse, a popular coffee shop and bookstore that closed in 2017 in Montevallo, still stirs warm memories among its former clientele.

So, when news emerged that former owners Michael and Cheryl Patton were supporting a re-boot of the coffee shop concept in Montevallo, it created immediate buzz.

The planned coffee shop will be called Meri Moon and will be located in the former Strand Theatre building on Main Street, with a possible opening in May. The building most recently was the home of Baba Java, a coffee shop that closed in December 2023.

Rachel Christine Phillips, formerly a bartender at Main Street Tavern, said Cheryl Patton suggested the coffee shop idea and agreed to be a partner with her. “Cheryl came to me in January and said, ‘You need to open a coffee shop,’” Phillips said.

Phillips previously operated Meri Moon Boutique in Daphne before moving to Montevallo five years ago.

Phillips said they have signed a lease on the Strand and will get the keys on April 1, which will allow them to begin setting up for business.

Eclipse was known for its eclectic menu that included milkshakes and pimento cheese sandwiches, along with a gourmet coffee selection. For 16 years until 2017, Eclipse occupied a building that had a wraparound front porch and interior rooms stocked with books. It became a popular meeting and study venue for University of Montevallo students and a popular gathering spot for local residents.

The Strand building will allow for sidewalk patio seating out front, with three separate rooms inside that they hope will provide the same ambiance as the old Eclipse, Phillips said.

“We want to bring that homey feel back,” she said. “We want to give people the space again.”

Phillips also hopes to give it a boutique spin, with items for sale featuring Montevallo artists.

The menu will have to be more limited than the old Eclipse, since there are apartments above the theater space that prevent building hood ventilation for cooking.

“We can’t do a full kitchen,” Phillips said.

But a reprise of milkshakes and pimento cheese sandwiches and hummus are all doable, she said.

“We’re trying to re-create that vibe with welcoming cubbyholes and areas for everyone to sit in,” Michael Patton said. “They’ll have gourmet coffee and things to eat. It’s going to be a wine bar as well.”

Phillips said she’s relying on Cheryl Patton to offer guidance on how to re-create the magic that Eclipse was known for.

“We’re doing it, and it’s going to be great,” Phillips said.