Judy’s Family Cafe, a beloved eatery in Galesburg, Illinois, known for its delicious pancakes and engaging social media presence, is set to relocate to a new, larger location in the heart of downtown. This move comes as a response to the cafe’s soaring popularity, driven by viral videos that have captured national and international attention. The cafe, currently situated on N. Broad St., will be making its new home at 51 N. Prairie St. in Spring 2025, previously occupied by Prairie City Pasta and Charred 51.
Judy Wang, owner of Judy's Family Cafe, smiles warmly in her cafe
Owner Jingjie “Judy” Wang shared her excitement about the move, stating, “Because of our business needs, a new adventure will begin in 2025.” This “new adventure” is largely fueled by the incredible success of Judy’s Family Cafe’s social media strategy. Their creative and fun TikTok account, managed by Victor Dantas, has amassed nearly 100,000 followers and boasts millions of likes. One video alone has garnered over 12 million views, propelling Judy’s Family Cafe into the spotlight and even earning features in prominent publications like the New York Times and a live television interview on WGN TV.
This widespread attention has translated into real-world success for Judy’s Family Cafe, attracting customers from across the United States and beyond. However, the current location, which was once home to Swedough’s Doughnuts and has an 80-person capacity, is now feeling the strain of this increased demand. Judy Wang explains, “Since we started making short videos on social media, our business has been growing. However, Judy’s has limited space. Many customers from other states have difficulty finding parking spaces. I feel sad when many old customers, neighbors and friends in the community who have supported us for many years have to wait for a table on busy weekends.”
The move to 51 N. Prairie St. is intended to address these challenges. The new downtown location promises to offer more space and, crucially, ample parking. Judy emphasizes that this relocation is about enhancing the customer experience for both long-time local patrons and the new wave of visitors discovering Judy’s Family Cafe through social media. “The new location will have more space and ample parking spaces,” she said. “I have to do this so that it can be a better experience for my friends who come from afar and the community that has supported me over the years. Every step of Judy’s has grown with the help and support of the community.”
Exterior view of 51 N. Prairie St., the future home of Judy's Family Cafe in downtown Galesburg, Illinois
Looking ahead to the spring opening in downtown Galesburg, Judy anticipates making slight modifications to the menu. Fans of Judy’s Family Cafe can also rest assured that the viral videos that sparked this growth will continue. Judy confirmed, “My social media manager Victor Dantas and I will continue to create more videos and hope that more people will come to Galesburg to travel.” The move to downtown Galesburg represents an exciting new chapter for Judy’s Family Cafe, promising to provide an even better experience for its growing fanbase while remaining true to the community that has championed its success.
