Gisela’s Haus was founded in 2018 by Julie Morgan Morissette after returning to her hometown of Havana, Illinois, following a 35-year absence. She knew things would look different, but seeing the once-vibrant Main Street so quiet was disheartening. One day, while walking her dog LuLu, Julie passed a vacant storefront. Something drew her back, and within hours she had written an escrow check.
The historic building—though in need of a complete renovation and plenty of love—sparked her vision almost immediately. Julie imagined a space that would honor her late mother, Gisela Morgan, a woman remembered for her style, warmth, and gift for cooking and entertaining. Gisela’s Haus became both a tribute and a new beginning: a store filled with beauty, creativity, and the spirit of hospitality her mother embodied.
