Ad Astra to open café

Ad Astra Wine & Tapas Bar is expanding its operations to include extended hours and a more expansive food and drink menu.

"We've gotten a lot of requests from people who work downtown who wanted someplace casual to take coworkers for lunch or a drink," owner Kristina Barbee said. "And a lot of people who work remotely are looking for places to have client meetings or community group meetings."

Barbee opened Ad Astra - named for the Latin phrase "to the stars" - at 308 E. Adams St. in late 2022. "This is something we had wanted to do for a long time," she said. "Some of us have to be there during the day anyway for deliveries and restocking, so we figured who not just go ahead and be open then?"

A new menu released last week includes salads, brunch toasts and appetizers, and café drink offerings will include an assortment of teas, coffees and other non-alcoholic drinks. However, Barbee said she plans to adjust her liquor license to be able to offer wine with lunch as well.

Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 2, Ad Astra will be open at noon on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The café will open at 10 a.m. on Saturdays, although Barbee said once the Old Capitol Farmers Market concludes for the season the Saturday opening time will be noon as well.

"We've gotten some new furniture and adjusted our lighting, so it will be a nice, intimate café space to have lunch or work out of," Barbee said.