Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters and Petite Cafe
Location submitted by: sdonley on 07/03/2025
DBA Approved: Y
PANICd#: 2204
| The cafe is housed in the Cole Digges House, a colonial-era structure dating back to around 1726, making it one of the original buildings in Historic Yorktown. |
411 Main St
Yorktown , VA 23690
Open to the public: Yes
Lat: 37.2388
Lon: -76.5097
Database Summary:
Demographic Rank: 0
History: 1
Stories: 1
Claims: 10
Evidence: 0
Resources: 1
Retrievals: 46111
Vistor Rating: 0.0
Votes: 0
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History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.
The cafe is housed in the Cole Digges House, a colonial-era structure dating back to around 1726, making it one of the original buildings in Historic Yorktown. This building is among the few surviving pre-revolutionary structures on Main Street and retains much of its period charm. It stands as a physical reminder of the architectural style and craftsmanship typical of early eighteenth-century Virginia.
From the eighteenth century through the early 2000s, the property served various residential and commercial uses, including at one point operating as a coffee and tea house in the 1880s under Elizabeth Cooper. Over the centuries, the building's uses evolved with the community, shaping trends in local hospitality and commerce across generations. Each change in ownership added another layer to the structure's historical narrative.
In 2018, Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters, founded in 2007 by Celeste and Jo Gucanac, arrived in Yorktown after securing a lease on the Cole Digges House. They transformed the site into Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters and Petite Cafe, revitalizing the historic building as a modern artisan cafe and roastery while preserving its colonial architectural integrity. Their work gave the building new life while honoring its historical significance.
Operating within the constraints of historic preservation protocols, the owners restored original features while expanding the kitchen into its historic footprint. This allowed for modern coffee-making and baking operations without compromising the building’s visible authenticity. The cafe also became the only private business in the National Park Service certified to offer history-led tours, further blending heritage and hospitality.
Today, the cafe offers expertly roasted coffee, baked goods, light meals, and even wine or microbrews, all within a 300-year-old colonial building. Customers enjoy both the quality of the products and the immersive setting. The building’s history, combined with its restoration and current use, makes it a unique destination where Yorktown’s past and present converge in one welcoming space.
Added by: sdonley on 07/27/2025 DB#:798
Source(s):
Various
Stories are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location.
The Cole Digges House, dating to the early 18th century, has long been associated with ghost stories tied to its Revolutionary War and Civil War history. One tale involves a young British soldier who reportedly sheltered in a hidden staircase after a cannon shell struck the house. Witnesses claim he later appears as a blood-covered apparition in the stairwell, reenacting his final moments.
Much of the haunting lore centers on the second floor, which reportedly served as a Civil War hospital. The upper rooms grew unbearably hot and odorous, compelling staff to keep the windows wide open to vent the smell of decay. Some visitors now report hearing the sobbing of a woman or nurse echoing from those rooms, perhaps mourning fallen patients she could not save.
Several former tenants of the house have recounted seeing colonial-era apparitions carrying on as though the past centuries never passed. One couple shared how the previous occupants left, unnerved by nightly sightings of a man dressed in colonial garb standing silently in doorways and hallways. A female figure has also been glimpsed moving through dim corners before vanishing. Some visitors have described seeing a ghostly man and woman walking hand in hand through the garden at twilight, pausing to look at the house before fading away. They are often thought to be a former owner and his wife, eternally bound to the place they once called home.
Other strange experiences include fireplaces mysteriously lighting on their own and furniture shifting without cause. In one story, a hostess dismissing talk of ghosts reportedly had the secret door to a hidden passage slam open violently, knocking objects off shelves and startling guests. These dramatic episodes fuel local lore about active spirits residing in the house.
Even today, ghost tours in Yorktown recognize the Cole Digges House as one of the town’s most haunted buildings. Evening visitors often say the air feels heavy inside or the temperature inexplicably drops in certain rooms. Whether interpreted as residual energy or active hauntings, the building continues to draw those interested in the spiritual echoes of America’s early conflicts.
Added by: sdonley on 07/27/2025 DB#:1760
Source(s):
Various
Here are the paranormal claims for this location. These have been found through Internet research, reports from members, or reports from personal interviews. To add a claim, your account must have contributor access or higher.
| Claim# | Claim |
| 4222 | A blood-covered British soldier is seen in the stairwell.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4223 | Sobbing of a nurse is heard on the third floor.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4224 | A colonial man stands silently in doorways at night.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4225 | A woman in period dress vanishes around corners.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4226 | A ghostly couple walks hand in hand through the garden.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4227 | Fireplaces light on their own without explanation.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4228 | Furniture shifts with no one nearby.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4229 | A hidden door slams open violently during conversations about ghosts.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4230 | Heavy air and cold spots are felt in certain rooms.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4231 | Visitors sense a lingering presence throughout the house. Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
Paranormal evidence is based on claims that have been reported for this location. There can be several types of evidence; however, we have grouped them based on media type for better organization. Here you will find evidence that are logs, audio, video, or photographic.
To add evidence for a claim, you must submit it to PANICd.com for approval to be entered into the database.
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This is a collection of Internet resources for this location. This section will house links to other websites that contain information related to history, claims, investigations, or even the location's website.
| Yorktown Ghost Stories: Colonial era ghosts still haunt the streets of this landmark village of the American Revolution - Witchery Art: A Gothic Cabinet of Curiosities and Mysteries | Information about the paranormal. |
| Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley | |
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