By Derek Lowe

The College Street Café is perfect for students looking for another eating option besides the usual places available at W&J College. A good thing about this is the café is in walking distance from the campus for students without any form of transportation.

The Café

College Street Café, of course got its name from being located on College Street. The Café is a fairly large red building beside the student parking lot across the street behind Henry Memorial Gym. The building was of no use to the community before it was transformed into the College Street Café. The café is a family owned business that serves various homemade foods prepared from old family recipes. With a variety of foods to choose from on the menu it is guaranteed to satisfy any customer. Also there is a delivery option for customers who do not want to leave their home and lunch packages for office/staff meetings are available if you call for details.

Once you are inside of the café there is a comfortable atmosphere. Although it is not very large everything is set up to give you that right at home feeling. When you first walk in the door you will see chairs and tables set up throughout the café. There are stools located around the counter in front of where the employees work and prepare the food. This will give a person the Waffle House feeling to sit around the counter. The café fits an old diner type description from previous times.

W&J Students who stay on campus know the usual eating-places on campus (The Commons, George & Toms, Barista Café) and know that after a while they get old. In order to get any other type of food you would have to go off campus most times a long walking distance. Students could also treat the café the same as the ski lodge because it is quiet and comfy. Often the café is so quiet a student can take his or her homework along to work on while enjoying a homemade meal.

The people who you may see working at The College Street Café vary from the owner, Susie Wilson and other family members such as her two sons. They are very nice and willing to help any one who stops down for a bite. Get there early to get the popular items before they sell out of them. All food items are set at a reasonable price so that you will get the right price and quality.

The Café can be an additional option for students and faculty at W&J College along with employees at local businesses in Washington County. This local café has been open for about two years now and is looking to attract more college students from W&J. Once more of the students go to the café then more students will hear about it. Walk down and give the café a look and see if you like it. If the café is the type of place you would eat to get a break from usual food on campus then go pick up a menu.

Food Available at The Café

The Café offers a variety of food for breakfast and lunch since it is only open until 2:00 P.M. On certain days there are specials where there is a different food to choose that is not available everyday, so keep a close eye out for the sign that sits outside the door. If you go and check out the café then you will become familiar with the specials and the days certain ones are served. Aside from the specials there is a menu with a variety of items to choose from.

Menu Items

Breakfast Options

Lunch Options

Dressings: Golden Italian, Light Italian, Ranch

Snacks

Beverages

• Fountain Drinks:(Coke Products) Small-.90, Medium-$1.10, Large-$1.25
• Coffee & Tea: Small-.94, Large-$1.10
• Cappacino: Small-$1.15, Large-$1.45
• Slush Puppies: Small-$1.20, Medium-$1.55, Large-$1.85

Call For Daily Specials
(724)914-6123
Delivery Available
($10.00 Minimum Order)

Owner's Story

When I first noticed the building that is now College Street Café it was a five-bedroom apartment complex. My family helped me to decide whether or not to turn the building into a café. This would be my second café since I was asked to go into business with a friend at the Washington Mall. My kids told me that I was good at it and that I am good with people as well, so to give it a shot. I figured it was close to the college so maybe I can get a college crowd and try something different.

I have owned the College Street Café for two years and two months now, and I don't think that many students know this is down here. I have been in the newspaper, but I don't think students read it that much, although the café is beside the student parking lot I still do not get much of a college crowd. I knew I wouldn't get many students during the day because of classes so I focused on town offices and having casual items such as coffee etc. The café gets more office workers from the town than students from campus, and now that they are doing construction across the parking lot I have been getting business from the construction workers.

At the café I use my own home recipes and old family recipes for the food. The most popular item is the chicken salad or the chicken salad croissant. We get a lot of regulars that come into the café and there are some funny stories that occur as well.

Around the time of the presidential election when Bill Clinton came to W&J campus to speak, an older lady and her daughter came into the café when one of the regulars was present. The two got started talking about the debate and the man who is a regular said that he was voting for McCain and Palin. At this point the old lady began screaming that he is only voting for them because he likes the way Governor Palin looks. I went into the back to stay out of the conversation until the lady and her daughter left. The man didn't know what to say he seemed shocked.

My kids know that I am happy here and they also enjoy working here helping out on their free time.

By Derek Lowe based on an interview conducted with Susie Wilson on December 2, 2008.

Interested?

If you have some money to spend on food instead of using swipes on your meal card, get a few of your friends who are tired of the usual food that W&J College has to offer and make your way to College Street Café. Head down to College Street and you can't miss it. Turn this into a regular occasion for you and your fellow classmates to get a break from the usual food places. If you are short on time during the week try having breakfast or lunch there on a saturday.

Café Location and Business Hours

The Café is only open until 2:00 P.M. but is located just off of campus. College Street Café is located on College street behind Henry Memorial Gymnasium, beside the College Street Parking Lot. 

Steps to take:

1. Look at W&J campus map.
2. Locate College Street.
3. Go behind Henry Memorial Gym.
4. Look for a red building.

Café Hours:

Monday-Saturday: 7:30 A.M.- 2:00 P.M.

Sunday: Closed

Related Links

Map of Campus