Elmira Store's cafe reopens doors
Sandy Hudson cooks hash browns at the Elmira cafe on Saturday, while storeowner Ed Cook stands in the background. The order was Hudson’s first after the landmark cafe between Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint was closed for more than 10 months.(Photo by GWEN ALBERS)
ELMIRA — Over the last 10 months, Tom Green made more coffee at home than he did in the last 10 years.
That’s because Green — a nearly daily coffee drinker at the Elmira Store cafe — had to change his morning routine after Panhandle Health District in February ordered owner Ed Cook to no longer use his water well for the Highway 95 restaurant.
At 6 a.m. Saturday, when Cook reopened the landmark cafe known for its burgers and milkshakes, Green was among the first to have coffee as well as another specialty — biscuits and gravy.
“I was thrilled to see it reopen after all these months,” he said.
Nearly a year ago, Cook was told he could not longer use his water well after it was determined that the store’s sewer line was 13 1/2 feet from the well. Although it had been that way for 62 years, it was against code. Code calls for a 50-foot distance between a well and sewer line.
Cook closed the cafe and laid off 13 employees. The store and post office remained open while he debated the future of the 109-year-old business. In the meantime, workers raised $5,500 for a new well during a summer fundraiser attended by more than 600 people.
“It (the support) really gave me a shot in the arm,” Cook said. “Without that, I would’ve said ‘the heck with it,” and closed the cafe. I’m almost 70 years old.”
A new $35,000 well was drilled in August and the wait began. In the interim, the restaurant was remodeled with new carpeting, red Formica table and countertops, and matching curtains.
It wasn’t until 4 p.m. Christmas Eve that Cook got a telephone call from the health district, indicating he’d received his permit to reopen.
“It’s been a long time,” cook, waitress and cashier Sandy Hudson said Saturday. “Everybody has missed the cafe and I missed seeing everybody.”
Seven minutes after the cafe’s opening, Abe Renfro of Elmira ordered the first breakfast — hash browns with the works, including sausage gravy. The 72-year-old retired lineman was glad to be there.
“It’s a good place to come,” Renfro said.
Manager Jenny Konkle had another reason to be happy about the cafe’s reopening.
“I was getting at least five (inquiries) a day about when we were going to reopen,” Konkle said.
For now, the cafe will be open for breakfast and lunch.