Lockeby’s Cafe

Lockeby family photograph in Cafe

Lockeby's Cafe

Lockeby's Cafe Menu

These photographs donated by Jessica Lininger depict a "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant that previously resided in the town of Joppa, Illinois, Lockeby's Cafe. They exemplify one reason businesses are encouraged to innovate according to the supply and demand of their local economies. Lockeby's Cafe was open for roughly ten years between the 1950s and 1960s. It was one of many businesses that opened in Joppa, Illinois during this period. In 1951, Joppa found out that they would be welcoming a large power station to their town, Electric Energy Incorporated. This power station spurred the previously dormant economy of Joppa as hundreds of new employment opportunities were created, ushering in a plethora of new citizens. New gas lines, a water system, and schools were developed to account for this growth in population. The average public also took ahold of this opportunity to start their own small businesses, Lockeby's being just one of many. However, as of 2024, there are plans to close the Electric Energy Incorporated plant in Joppa.

Sources:

May, George. History of Massac County. Galesburg, IL: Wagoner Printing Company, 1955.

Temple, Terra. "Vistra Joppa Closure 'Will Impact Entire Communities.'" Metropolis Planet. October 15, 2020, https://www.metropolisplanet.com/news/vistra-joppa-closure-will-impact-entire-communities/article_292910fb-d94e-5199-8369-dadf4e923248.html.