June 16, 2025
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Bureau County Republican

New restaurant will sport a familiar name

By Lyle Ganther

Josh Krager and Kevin Thomas of Thomas Building and Remodeling of Thomas, Ill., work on sanding the floor prior to applying polyurethane at the former Stagecoach Spaghetti Express that will be called Bonnelli’s when the new restaurant opens around May 1. (BCR photo)

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PRINCETON — A new restaurant with a familiar name will open in Princeton on North Main Street,

Bonnelli’s will open under new owners at the former location of Stagecoach Spaghetti Express around May 1, according to Jouquenia and Tyrone Johnson of New Bedford, the owners of the building at 924 N. Main St.

“Our goal is to open it by May 1,” said Jouqenia Johnson last week as remodeling work was continuing in the building’s interior. “We bought Bonnelli’s recipes from Joe (Van der Meersch) and plan to open an Italian restaurant.”

The Johnsons are planning to have Dillon, their 15-year-old son, eventually take over running the restaurant after he takes some business classes.

Jouqenia Johnson has worked at The Coffee Cup in Princeton on the weekends for 13 years and is studying nursing at Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon. Tyrone Johnson also runs a trucking business.

“There is no way I can be there,” she said. “I don’t have time to be here.”

The plan is now for Bonnelli’s to be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week, but right now is not sure what day it will be closed. Those plans will be finalized closer to the May 1 opening date.

Jouqenia Johnson grew up in Princeton while her husband, Tyrone, grew up in New Bedford.

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