Cafe reopens after sidewalk construction
NORTH BEND, Ore.-- A non-profit cafe committed to serving elderly and low income residents in the bay area is now open again.
Crossroads Cafe was forced to close its doors in late-September because construction crews were going to replace the sidewalk in front of the cafe. Cafe operators felt the wooden boards and loose gravel would be dangerous for their customers, and they opted to close their doors.
"We're hoping two weeks, but they went a week longer," said Ethel German, cafe founder. "But you know that we were afraid it was going to be three weeks. We're happy it was only three."
For many of the frequent customers, having the cafe back means they can get a good meal at a price that is good for their budgets.
"This is a real blessing. I'm actually been coming here since they've opened," Debie Griffith, cafe patron, said. "I've been coming in here probably three times a week since then."
Debie and others tell KCBY that they had to get their meals from senior centers and restaurants that charge three to four times more for a plate of food.
"Its been hell, but I'm back again," said Bob Deskins, cafe regular.
Deskins said he and other people had to eat hambugers from fast food dollar menus just to eat and stay within their budget.
But the cafe and its customers are looking aheads to January. The cafe could be forced to close its doors again once construction on Highway 101 begins.
German said the construction could eliminate her customer's parking spaces on the curb outside of the cafe. Because close parking could be eliminated, she and other cafe workers do not want to see their customers walk a long distance from their cars for meals.
KCBY will continue to follow North Bend Master Plan construction in downtown North Bend. If the cafe closes again, KCBY will report on it.
Crossroads Cafe was forced to close its doors in late-September because construction crews were going to replace the sidewalk in front of the cafe. Cafe operators felt the wooden boards and loose gravel would be dangerous for their customers, and they opted to close their doors.
"We're hoping two weeks, but they went a week longer," said Ethel German, cafe founder. "But you know that we were afraid it was going to be three weeks. We're happy it was only three."
For many of the frequent customers, having the cafe back means they can get a good meal at a price that is good for their budgets.
"This is a real blessing. I'm actually been coming here since they've opened," Debie Griffith, cafe patron, said. "I've been coming in here probably three times a week since then."
Debie and others tell KCBY that they had to get their meals from senior centers and restaurants that charge three to four times more for a plate of food.
"Its been hell, but I'm back again," said Bob Deskins, cafe regular.
Deskins said he and other people had to eat hambugers from fast food dollar menus just to eat and stay within their budget.
But the cafe and its customers are looking aheads to January. The cafe could be forced to close its doors again once construction on Highway 101 begins.
German said the construction could eliminate her customer's parking spaces on the curb outside of the cafe. Because close parking could be eliminated, she and other cafe workers do not want to see their customers walk a long distance from their cars for meals.
KCBY will continue to follow North Bend Master Plan construction in downtown North Bend. If the cafe closes again, KCBY will report on it.
