Friends, family, and customers help celebrate the opening of Heart and Soul Cafe at Saturday ribbon cut

[June 26, 2018]  On Saturday afternoon a large crowd gathered around Sherese and Shay Johnson as they prepared to snip the ribbon at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Sherese's new eatery Heart and Soul Cafe.

Among the many in the crowd were several customers and a number of family members including some who had traveled all the way from Chicago to assist Sherese in her celebration.

Also on hand were Lincoln Mayor Seth Goodman, Alderman Rick Hoefle, former Chamber Ambassador Marcia Cook, and Roy Logan and Nila Smith with the LDN Ribbon Cut crew.

Smith led the cut and opened talking about how it had been a pleasure to meet Sherese and get to know her, and how that she enjoyed hearing Sherese's story. Smith noted to the crowd that one of her favorite parts was when Sherese said she was not from Lincoln. "Sherese chose to come to Lincoln. She chose to raise her family here, to work here, to get her education here, and now she has chosen to start her business here."

Smith went on to say that it is important to our community that we attract new people and when people choose to come here and make Lincoln and Logan County their home, we should welcome them and encourage them.

On this day, Rick Hoefle spoke briefly as not only a Lincoln alderman but also as a Heart and Soul customer. He said that everything he has taken out of the carry-out cafe' has been really good. He talked about the first time he went into the cafe' and the recommendation he received from four other customers inside that he should definitely take Sherese's Mild Sauce for his chicken. He said it was a great recommendation and now he always has the mild sauce.

Mayor Goodman also spoke directly to Sherese, welcoming her and thanking her for choosing to open her new business in Lincoln. He wished her all the best in the future.

Sherese also spoke, starting out a bit emotional, but working through it, she thanked a large number of family and friends who had supported her and encouraged her to work toward fulfilling this dream she has had for many years.

After a few posed pictures, Sherese with help from her daughter Shay snipped the ribbon. Shay works in the cafe with her mom, and Sherese refers to the business as a "two-man-band" though she also says she has a number of friends who are more than happy to step in and help out when she has a lot going on.

During the cut Sherese also acknowledged her other children and expressed appreciation to them for their support.

After the snipping of the ribbon, everyone was invited to enjoy refreshments, and also to sign the red ribbon that Sherese was given as a memento of the cut.

[Nila Smith]