'Surreal': Popular singer regularly visited Downtown Peoria coffee shop during stay

Charli XCX has garnered a lot of attention this year.

The English singer-songwriter released her new hit album, “Brat,” this summer, and she and fellow pop star Troye Sivan recently embarked on their Sweat tour. The artists will perform for crowds in Canada, Dallas, New York, San Francisco and many other states throughout the U.S.

Ahead of the tour, though, Charli XCX became something of a regular at Intuition Coffee + Juice in Downtown Peoria.

Owner Ty Paluska said both singers paid the coffee shop a visit during their stay but added that Charli XCX consistently returned to the Peoria establishment.

More: All the songs Charli XCX and Troye Sivan sing on the Sweat tour: Setlist

They became ‘obsessed with this place’

Trey Mowder, a staff member and longtime fan, was working during one such visit and was surprised when she ordered two of his favorite items – the nitro cold brew and avocado toast. He described the experience as “surreal.”

“But what was almost more surreal was that, to me, it all kind of felt really normal,” he said. “Like it seemed like she had been coming here for years.”

Along with the cold brew and avocado toast, Paluska said Charli XCX ordered other items ? such as the Swift Kick in the Grass cold-pressed juice ? which match the color scheme of her hit 2024 album.

Paluska said dancers and other team members also visited Intuition multiple times during their stay.

“Their team, in their own words, said they'd become obsessed with this place,” Paluska said. “Just to be able to come to a small town and find like healthy, quality options. They were just like floored.”

Mowder was excited for the opportunity to highlight Peoria’s local coffee scene and “show a celebrity that like Peoria has some cool stuff.”

More: Peoria's Brat Summer? Pop star Charli XCX shares TikTok while rehearsing in Illinois

Offering ‘the finest Midwestern hospitality’

If you hadn’t heard about the singer stopping by Intuition until recently, that was by design. Paluska said everyone on staff kept quiet about the visits until after she left the area.

“I think we just all agreed we wanted to show her, like, just the finest Midwestern hospitality we could and respect her privacy,” Paluska said.

Even so, news of her visits got out to an extent.

Paluska said small groups of fans gathered at the coffee shop after the first few days to try and meet the singer. He and Mowder said Charli XCX was kind to each person she met and would often sign autographs or smile for a photograph. She took photos with staff members, as well, and autographed a “Brat” record cover for an employee’s partner.

During one of her visits, Paluska noticed his daughter and her friend left two homemade friendship bracelets with a note asking him to “Please give to Charli XCX.” So, he brought the green bracelets out to the singer.

“She was like, ‘Oh my god, That's so cute,’ and she put them on and then she wore them the rest of the time she was here,” Paluska said.

‘Making her feel at home’

Paluska said “it was a joy” to watch employees interact with Charli XCX. With multiple longtime fans on staff, he is proud of the service and experience his team was able to provide.

For employee Deborah Sheppard, the experience felt unreal. She has been a fan of the singer for roughly a decade and plans to see her in concert soon. So, it was both exciting and a bit nerve wracking when Charli XCX visited the shop.

“I'm like, this is the Matrix, like, anything could happen,” Sheppard said. “If Charlie XCX can walk into my job, anything can happen to me.”

A true fan, Mowder discussed how one of Charli XCX’s new songs, “Rewind,” is about “missing when her life was more normal.” He felt as though Intuition was able to provide a small sense of normalcy during her time in Peoria.

“I think the fact that she kept coming in every day is like a credit to like Peoria and our staff,” Mowder said, “and I don't know, I was really proud of us for like making her feel at home the whole time she was here.”

Previously: R&B superstar Chris Brown goes bowling and practices in Peoria ahead of Chicago concerts

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Charli XCX regularly visited Downtown Peoria coffee shop during stay