PEORIA MAGAZINE July 2022

P L A Y I N G I N P E O R I A

NEIGHBORHOOD CAFÉ HAS JUST THE RIGHT TOUCH West Peoria’s Touch of Grey caters to kids, canines, grandmas

BY KIRK WESSLER PHOTOS BY RON JOHNSON

E very neighborhood can benefit from a splash of color. Even if it’s simply a Touch of Grey. That’s the music-inspired name of a tiny, music-themed café at 2420 W. Rohman in the heart West Peoria. Since it opened in November 2020, Touch of Grey has been serving espressos and mimosas, donuts and paninis, beer and wine – and, of course, live acoustic music out back when the weather is nice. It all comes with the cool vibe that never evaporates, even when there’s snow on the ground. And nowTouch of Grey serves ice cream, too! “If you listen to people in your community, they’ll tell you what they want. So we added ice cream,” says café owner Jason Miles, 47, whose voice rumbles across gravel before spilling through a thick, reddish beard appropriately and naturally streaked by touches of grey. Miles is a longtime central Illinois music promoter who saw an empty niche in the local business landscape and figured out a way to fill it. “There aren’t a whole lot of places you can come and bring your kids and family and dogs and listen to livemusic,” he says. Most live local music is performed at

gap,” Miles says. “Most of the music we do is acoustic, partly because we’re in a neighborhood. Most timeswe don’t have drums, because kick drums are loud.We try to book people that play to all ages. “It’s really something to see my 90-year-old grandma tapping her foot while my 7-year-old nephew runs around dancing.” Most acts are local, but Miles occasionally books touring artists and will expand the schedule to accommodate musicians on the road. Follow the café’s Facebook page (facebook.com/touchofgreycafe) to stay up to date with themusic schedule. You can also look for the Touch of Grey mobile kitchen at area events throughout the summer. Touch of Grey opens at 7 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Weekends bring the brunch shows. Tuesday is trivia night. Wednesday featuresDogDaysof Summer, apartnershipwithStrayAnimalsMidway Shelter out of Hanna City that includes games for the pooches and a doggie photo booth, serenaded by live music. Then there are Grateful Dead Thursdays withMr. Charlie — a.k.a. Rick Gutierrez — who covers the Dead and other popular artists.

Rick Gutierrez of Mr. Charley, plays at Touch of Grey

night. At hours later than many older adults want to go out. In bars, where children are not allowed. Indoors, where pets are not welcome. At Touch of Grey, weekday music events end by 8 p.m., an hour before closing time, and most weekend shows run noon to 3 p.m. The stage opens to a converted parking lot behind the store, with a large shelter providing a sun screen for several tables. There’s plenty of room for people to bring their

own chairs, too – and many do. There’s never a cover charge.

“I wanted to bring quality entertain ment andmake it bridge the generational

70 JULY 2022 PEORIA MAGAZINE