Before & After Cafe Teases Big Changes for April 25
The Sperryville espresso bar closes early April 23, reopens transformed — just in time for SperryFest weekend
Something New Is Coming to Sperryville's Favorite Cafe
If you're planning a trip to Sperryville this weekend for SperryFest on Saturday, April 25, there's an extra reason to arrive early: Before & After Cafe is debuting changes that the team has been tight-lipped about all week.
The cozy espresso cafe and wine bar at 31 Main Street will close at noon on Thursday, April 23 to accommodate the transition, then reopen its doors at 8 AM on Friday, April 24. The cafe's own post invited guests to "make sure to visit us on Friday to see what's new" — which, in a town as close-knit as Sperryville, is enough to get people talking.
Spring Picnic Boxes Are Back — With a New Twist
Even before the mystery reveal, Before & After already made a spring move worth noting: their beloved seasonal picnic lunch boxes returned the first weekend of April. The format is the same — grab-and-go boxes perfect for a hike up Old Rag or an afternoon by the Thornton River — but the filling got an upgrade.
The turkey gouda sandwich that anchored previous seasons has been swapped out for what the cafe is calling "a new house spin on a caprese sandwich." Expect fresh, seasonal ingredients in the spirit of their local, global-flavored kitchen. The picnic boxes are available through the last weekend of April, so the window is short.
Community Spirit: Hill House Farm Fills the Planters
Before & After has long been more than a coffee stop — it functions as an unofficial village hub. In a recent post, the cafe gave a warm shoutout to Hill House Farm & Nursery, which has relocated to a new spot on Clover Hill at Eldon Farms in Woodville (between Sperryville and Woodville). Hill House grabbed the cafe's outdoor planters, filled them with native plants, and returned them — a small gesture that says a lot about how this community operates.
If you're a gardener passing through, Hill House's new Eldon Farms location is worth a detour. They carry native plants and run impressive greenhouses open for browsing. Contact Janet, Rob, and Sterling for specific availability.
SperryFest Is Saturday — Here's the Duck Race Timeline
Before & After sits right on the Thornton River, putting it at the center of SperryFest's signature Great Rubber Duck Race. The event is free and family-friendly:
- Kids Duck Derby: 2:00 PM on the Thornton River
- Main Event Duck Race: 3:00 PM
- Location: Thornton River, Sperryville (starting near 31 Main Street)
- Cost: Free to attend; duck purchases support local nonprofits
Duck ticket purchases are available in advance at zeffy.com. As Off the Grid's post put it: "Every duck makes a difference" — proceeds keep SperryFest free for families while supporting community programs.
The full SperryFest festival runs all day Saturday, April 25 along Sperryville Main Street and Schoolhouse Field, with live music, artisan makers, and food vendors rounding out the lineup.
Planning Your Visit
Before & After Cafe
📍 31 Main Street, Sperryville, VA 22740
📞 (540) 987-8720
🌐 before-after.goto-where.com
Special hours this week: Closing at noon Thursday, April 23 | Reopening 8 AM Friday, April 24
Picnic lunch boxes available through late April while supplies last.
Hill House Farm & Nursery at Eldon Farms
📍 Clover Hill at Eldon Farms, Woodville, VA (between Sperryville and Woodville)
🌐 eldonfarms.com
📞 (540) 987-8305
This article was generated from verified local data and reviewed by AI. Learn how we write these stories