The Courthouse Cafe & Collectibles is located in one of the oldest buildings in Waterloo, IL. Daniel P. Cook and George Forquer surveyed the property on April 7, 1818. The property was sold numerous times during the 1800’s and 1900’s. The Shields sisters had a millinery shop there at one time. In 1844, Thomas J. Wells sold the lot to John H. Pirtle for $60. Later, in 1846, Edward O’Melvany sold the property to Harvey K. S. O’Melvany for $154. During 1858, William R. Morrison sold the property to Thomas J. Cornell for $2,200. During the 1800’s the building was divided into a north half and a south half. Henry Knapp purchased the north half of the property in 1930 and opened Henry’s Grocery, He was known as the “Nickel Block Banker” because, at that time, banks had limited hours, and Henry was always cashing checks for customers. In 1962, Robert Limestall, Henry Knapp’s son-in-law, purchased it for $5,000. Limestall, opened Limestall’s Plumbing and Heating. In 1980, Ellen Canova, daughter to Limestall started making plans to renovate the building. On May 17, 1983 The Nickel Block Deli opened. In 1987 the Lamberti’s Italian restaurant opened. In 1995 Barbara and Bob Schlegel opened the Court House Espresso Café. In June 2003 Jim & Darla Baker purchased the café and renamed it slightly to The Courthouse Café & Collectibles. Jim and Darla offer great food and gourmet coffee’s along with the antique and collectibles curio mall. The café is well known and very much liked for it’s country breakfast and lunch they serve. They pride themselves for the quality and food service they provide the old fashioned table service way. The café offers an early 1900’s setting with tin ceilings and wooden floors. The café has become a tourist stop for many to step back in time and enjoy the atmosphere and take in the aroma of fresh gourmet coffee. Jim & Darla contribute much of their success to the staff they have working for them. It is the extra attention in caring and getting to know the customer is what keeps returning customers. The talent and creativeness of the cooks are always looking for new recipes to try. It is these recipes that makes the café unique in comparison to stamped out food by the fast food chains. In today’s world of food service the “art” of small hometown country cooking is being lost. Most everything at the café is made from scratch and is the freshest it can be.