Remember those coffee shops you always seem to read about in novels? The kind where the character sits and contemplates the meaning of life while sipping on a chai soy latte and listening to the poetry reading taking place in the back of the shop? Café Ollie is that shop.
The moment you enter, a cathartic sense of euphoria washes over you. With a comforting atmosphere reminiscent of European designs, the café features local artwork, which interchanges monthly. Following the “local” theme, Café Ollie, located at 42 E. Cross Street in Depot Town, also houses Better-Made potato chips, Faygo soda and Guernsey’s ice cream, all of which are Michigan manufactured products. Local musicians frequent the café, solidifying the homey and cozy vibe.
The vinyl plastered menus feature a wide variety of items, where you can order anything from a cappuccino and sandwich to ice cream and a beer from, you guessed it, a local brewery. The café is vegan and vegetarian friendly, but for all of those meat lovers out there, you can still get your fill with the Count Macula: homemade mac and cheese (sorry Kraft lovers) combined with a hot dog.
Yes, you heard me right; slathered in spicy ranch sauce all bundled together in a wrap. If you enjoy tofu, try the vegetarian “Hi, How Are You” sandwich, which is pulled BBQ tofu topped with coleslaw and Swiss cheese on a Ciabatta bun. This sandwich makes tofu sound pretty delicious, doesn’t it?
Danielle and Mark Teachout have owned Café Ollie for two and a half years, but the building has served as a café for 30 years. The vegetarian husband and wife pair have turned what could be another generic coffee shop into an amazing experience for all who stop by.
After taking in the infinite Michigan license plates lining the counter, perusing the glass-bottled beverages and flipping through the $4 albums, I eventually ordered a Mocha Java shake and a Nachos Mama, one of the many mac and cheese options Café Ollie has to offer. Expect to see a variety of different options for gooey, cheesy, macaroni goodness. Nachos Mama is all the fixing of a taco complete with elbow macaroni noodles. The first sip of my coffee flavored shake had me sighing with delight and the first bite of my taco salad nachos was like heaven in noodle form. The food is every bit as diverse and appealing as the friendly atmosphere.
While pacing throughout the quaint, hardwood-floored shop, take note of the few loose bricks precariously placed along the walls. Think about the brick wall in back of the Leaky Cauldron in the
“Harry Potter” series. Maybe if you tap them right Diagon Alley will appear right behind those walls or maybe those bricks represent a hiding place for little notes written by amused guests of the shop. Café Ollie has so much happening; it’s easy to miss something on just an initial walkthrough of the shop. Those who live on campus or those who have free time between classes, I highly recommend stopping by; there is not one thing on the menu that won’t pique your interest.
