By Faith Rosenshein Young | The Tully Team at Platinum Partners Realtors
If you spend any time exploring the Western Suburbs, you know our communities are full of small businesses that give places like Downers Grove, Naperville, Warrenville, and Winfield their charm. One of those standouts, Scone House Cafe, has become one of those places that people talk about with a kind of hometown pride. It is the cozy spot where regulars gather every Saturday, where knitters settle in with their projects, and where the line at the farmers market used to curl around the corner. None of that happened by accident. It all started with the creativity, discipline, and work ethic of its owner, Toni Browley, who has been building this business one flavor at a time since 2017. Her story is as inspiring as her scones are unforgettable, and it also reflects something important for anyone thinking about buying or selling in the Western Suburbs. Neighborhood favorites like Scone House Cafe shape the feel of a community, influence lifestyle and walkability, and often become the hidden gems that draw people to settle in DuPage County in the first place. Featuring places like this in The Tully Team local business spotlight series helps buyers and sellers understand not just the homes here, but the everyday heartbeat of the communities they love or hope to call home.
From grocery store bakeries to building a brand
Before Scone House Cafe was a destination in Winfield, Toni spent years building a powerhouse resume inside some of the biggest bakery operations around. She studied the craft, ran bakeries for Dominick’s, Mariano’s, and Jewel-Osco, and eventually managed production for East Balt Bakeries, the company that made bread and buns for McDonald’s, KFC, and Pepperidge Farm. By the time she became superintendent for the entire plant, she already knew two things. She had gone as far as she wanted to go in the corporate bakery world, and she had a passion for creating something of her own.
Scones became that spark. She used to throw away the packaged ones she bought at the stores because the flavor never hit the mark. So, she did what she always does when something bothers her. She went home and made her own. She brought them to family gatherings. People loved them. Eventually she began testing them at work, too. She kept tweaking recipes until they tasted the way she believed a great scone should.
The farmers market launch
In 2017, she finally went for it. Toni rented space by the hour in shared commercial kitchens, baked as much as she could, and with help from her husband Artice and their son, sold at her first farmers market in Brookfield. It took off immediately. Soon she grew to six farmers markets, including Logan Square and Wheaton, where her line often became one of the longest in the entire market.
People were hooked. They also wanted access year-round. That push from customers is what eventually led Toni to look for a permanent location.
How Winfield became home
Originally, she thought she would end up in Wheaton as that is where she had built such a strong following from the farmers market. But when she walked into a vacant space in Winfield, something clicked. It was close to Wheaton, close to Central DuPage Hospital and the train station, and it had the kind of neighborhood feel she wanted.
She did not want a space where people only grabbed food to go. She wanted a place where people would sit, relax, talk, knit, read, and turn a simple bakery visit into part of their routine. Winfield offered exactly that. The community welcomed her immediately, and many of the same customers who used to stand in line at the farmers markets now show up at her door.
Building the perfect scone
Toni is known for being a perfectionist, and her process is exactly that. She writes the recipe, makes it, rewrites it, makes it again, and keeps refining it until it passes her toughest test. She jokes that she is not gluten free or vegan, yet she has become one of the most selective testers of vegan butter and gluten free flour blends in the area. When she finally found versions that worked, she expanded her menu to offer both.
Over the years she has created more flavors than she can count. Some are seasonal. Some rotate. Some make a surprising comeback because customers refuse to let them disappear. The most popular flavor is the cinnamon roll scone, with blueberry and chocolate chip following closely behind. But every flavor has its own fans. She can pull almost any flavor out of the case and hear someone say they were waiting for exactly that one.
Not every idea works, though. Strawberry apricot is the one she could never get right. Key Lime was one she refused to give up on and eventually perfected after many rounds of reworking. New ideas come from everywhere. Cookbooks. Magazines. Restaurant desserts. Trips to the store. A Fig Newton inspired scone is on her list to try next.
Creating a place people want to stay
Walk into Scone House Cafe any morning and you will notice it immediately. People know each other. They greet Artice, who works behind the counter, by name. The regulars claim their favorite tables. The decor changes with every season because Toni wants the space to feel warm, welcoming, and cared for. She sets the tone for the environment she hopes customers experience. A calm place where people enjoy slowing down for a moment.
That feeling is so important to her that when brokers show her new locations, she evaluates them by one question. Could people relax here? Not every space offers that. Winfield does.
Weathering the pandemic and growing forward
Because her business originally ran only during farmers market season, the pandemic did not hit her as hard as it hit many full-time storefronts. She had savings, a kitchen, and loyal customers who waited for the summer to return. Opening the cafe in Winfield in 2021 still meant a slow start, but word spread quickly, especially once farmers market customers realized they could finally get their favorite scones in winter.
Now the goal is growth. Toni and Artice are looking for a larger space where they can install a walk-in freezer and build inventory. The long-term plan includes shipping frozen scones nationwide and supplying cafes, hotels, and restaurants with wholesale orders. She has even been encouraged to consider stocking scones in convenience stores and groceries, but she is practical and patient. Every step happens when the business tells her it is time.
A Place That Feels Like Home
Toni loves this area. She talks with so much gratitude about the support Winfield and Wheaton have shown her, from the giant farmers market lines to the customers who stop in every week and share their family stories with Artice. She is proud of what she has built, but more than anything, she wants Scone House Cafe to stay a place where people feel welcome and comfortable.
Whether you come in for a cinnamon roll scone, a seasonal flavor, a gluten free treat, or just a moment to breathe in a warm space, that is exactly what she hopes you find. Great food is part of it, but the heart of Scone House Cafe is the connection people feel the second they walk through the door. Toni and Artice have created a spot where people slow down, enjoy good company, and feel at home.
For residents in Winfield, Wheaton, Downers Grove, Naperville, and across DuPage County, it has become a small business worth cheering on. And if you are exploring neighborhoods in the Western Suburbs or looking for a new go to local favorite, Scone House Cafe should definitely be on your list. It is a perfect example of the kind of small businesses that make our Chicagoland communities feel special.
About Faith Rosenshein Young
Faith is a licensed real estate broker with The Tully Team at Platinum Partners Realtors. With a background in home renovation, accessibility-focused design, and a deep commitment to client care, Faith brings both practical experience and heart to every project. She understands the importance of thoughtful home updates that support all stages of life and believes everyone deserves a space that feels safe, functional, and welcoming. Faith lives in DuPage County with her family and is passionate about helping others reimagine the potential in their homes.
