110 W. New York Ave., DeLand, FL
386-734-4622
New coffee shop caters to students — open to the community
By Jen Horton
posted Nov 21, 2008 - 3:07:26pm
Downtown DeLand’s old Greyhound bus station has been transformed: On Nov. 17, Stetson Station opened there to provide coffee, baked goods and work opportunities for Stetson University students.
Rick Christensen, director of auxiliary services for Stetson University, said DeLand’s newest coffee shop will benefit the university and the community.
“This building was empty,” Christensen said. “At that point, Stetson owned it.”
Read about the disappearance of DeLand's Greyhound depot.
Christensen said leasing the building would have been a challenge; instead, Stetson decided to take on a bigger challenge and convert the old bus station into a coffee shop.
“The concept was born in June,” Christensen said. “We said, ‘Let’s give it a try.’”
Flooring was installed at the end of June, and by the end of October, the cafe was just about ready to roll.
“It really turned out the way I envisioned it,” Christensen said.
He said the concept and the location, on Ohio Avenue on the southern boundary of the campus, are perfect for students.
“There really aren’t enough places for students to go,” he said. “This is kind of between DeLand and campus.”
Students who have university meal plans can use their points in the coffee shop at 224 E. Ohio Ave. The public is welcome, too.
“We have just about every coffee drink you can think of,” Christensen said.
Stetson Station tries to use local products: The baked goods are from Elsie’s New York Bakery in DeLand, and the coffee is Christopher Bean, which is roasted in Daytona Beach.
“They roast every single day,” Christensen said.
The store has two full-time employees: Brandon Hardesty and manager Nate Aguilar. The other employees are student workers who can participate in work-study programs to gain real-life experience while earning money for college.
Aguilar, a 2006 Stetson graduate, said the new coffee shop could help revitalize the immediate area.
“This is a great location,” he said. “Everyone knows where it is.”
Aguilar pointed out there is a long stretch without eateries at the north end of Downtown DeLand.
“I think we have a really strong start,” Aguilar said.
“We really transformed it,” Hardesty said. “I think back to when it was a bus station, and I stuck my head in here; it’s really transformed.”
One wall in Stetson Station will be dedicated to the display of art by students and other locals. There is also a stage, which the coffee-shop staff hopes can be used for student performances.
The cafe is open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Fridays. It will be closed Nov. 27-30 and Dec. 23-Jan. 2 for the holidays. After the breaks, Stetson Station hours may be expanded.
For more information, call (386) 822-8755.
Reader Comments
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Now, hopefully students will summon the energy to walk to the Stetson Station instead of drive.
Great article, Jen!
As always, we appreciate the many ways our readers help us become a better newspaper. Thanks to all.
—Co-publisher Barb Shepherd
Hey, glad I could offer you the opportunity to vent -- everyone has too much stress these days and it's good to have a way to blow off some steam.
The only thing is, I still don't know whether or not DeLand has a Greyhound bus station any more and since Jen and Rod didn't say, maybe someone else out there who reads these silly messages here will be kind enough to post the answer.
Also, Rod, I did compliment Jen on her story, which was pretty good, it just had a hole in it. So does my favorite sweater, but I still wear it. Have a good one.
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