Alexandra di Vittorio and Myles Gallup stand inside Café Bistro DuPont in North Hatley on March 11. The pair recently opened the café at 70 Main St., offering coffee, pastries and casual meals in the former Mercantile Café space. Photo and video by William Crooks.
A look at some of the pastries, baked goods and café offerings available at Café Bistro DuPont in North Hatley, filmed March 11. The newly opened café at 70 Main St. is operated by Alexandra di Vittorio and Myles Gallup.
Pulse Newsroom
A familiar gathering spot in North Hatley has reopened under new ownership, as Café Bistro DuPont welcomes customers to 70 Main St., the former home of the Mercantile Café. Operated by restaurateurs Alexandra di Vittorio and Myles Gallup, the café officially opened earlier this month and aims to combine quality coffee, casual dining and community programming in the heart of the village.
The café is already drawing visitors. During a visit on March 11, customers were stopping in for coffee, pastries and light meals, while the owners continued to refine their offerings and plan future programming.
“We wanted to bring a more traditional café atmosphere,” di Vittorio said. “Grab-and-go pastries, baked goods, quiches, focaccia — things you can walk in, sit down and eat, or take home for dinner.”
Familiar faces behind the café
Di Vittorio and Gallup are both familiar faces in the local restaurant scene. The two previously worked at the Mercantile Café before its closure last September and decided to launch their own venture in the same location.
Di Vittorio grew up in Belgium but has long been connected to the Eastern Townships through family ties.
“I’ve known the Townships and North Hatley for my entire life,” she said. “I moved here officially two years ago after completing culinary school in California.”
Her culinary path followed a different academic beginning. Promotional materials note that she first studied chemistry and biology at McMaster University before turning toward cooking during the pandemic, eventually pursuing culinary training in Santa Barbara, Calif. She later continued her studies in human geography at Bishop’s University while gaining practical experience in local kitchens, including the Mercantile Café.
Gallup, a North Hatley native, brings years of restaurant experience and a strong connection to the community.
“I grew up here. I’ve lived here all my life,” he said.
He worked at the village restaurant Saveurs et Gourmandises for nearly eight years, where he was mentored by owner Justine Brassard, an experience he says shaped his development in the industry. He later worked alongside di Vittorio at the Mercantile before the pair decided to pursue their own project.
“We both have a lot of experience in cafés and fast dining,” Gallup said. “We had the opportunity and really wanted to give back to the community and provide something that people were lacking and that we’re passionate about.”
Building a community space
The café currently focuses on coffee, pastries and quick meals that can be eaten on site or taken to go. Plans are already underway to expand the menu and service style in the coming months.
“Brunches are definitely probably the next stage on the weekends,” di Vittorio said.
The owners also hope to take advantage of the café’s lakeside location with terrace dining during the warmer months.
“We have such a nice spot by the lake that we want to exploit that and have it be a nice place for bikers to come and enjoy lunch,” she said. “But also, to use it for dinner service and have nice events or just a lovely supper by the lake.”
Events are expected to become part of the café’s identity as well. According to Gallup, themed evenings and live music are being considered once regular dinner service is fully established.
“We’ll probably have jazz again,” he said, with di Vittorio adding that ideas such as poker nights, game nights and open-mic evenings are also being discussed.
Focusing on specialty coffee
Beyond food and events, the owners say high-quality coffee will be central to the café’s identity. Café Bistro DuPont aims to become a destination for third-wave coffee — a movement focused on specialty beans, careful roasting and craft preparation.
To achieve that, the café has partnered with Yamabiko Coffee Roasters in Sutton. The roaster supplies the café’s house blend and will also allow the location to serve as a retail outlet where customers can purchase bags of beans to take home.
Community support and future plans
Community support has also played a role in the café’s reopening. Promotional materials note that members of the former Mercantile team joined the new venture, and volunteers helped during early renovation work, reflecting the strong local attachment to the space.
For di Vittorio and Gallup, the goal is to create more than just a restaurant — they want Café Bistro DuPont to become a place where residents and visitors gather throughout the day.
“We also wanted to create this community space where people can come together,” di Vittorio said. “Enjoy a coffee, enjoy a pastry, but also have a dinner place where people feel welcome — whether it’s families or a date night.”
“And North Hatley has such a broad population,” she added. “We wanted to create a place where everyone feels welcome and there is something for everyone.”