Location: 927 N. Main St., Urbana
Contact: www.spottedcowcoffeehouse.com, (937) 653-4798
Background/Overview:
Bobbi Custer is certain she exists thanks to her favorite animal, the cow!
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Her father Robert (“Bob”) and her mother Roberta (“Midge”) were farmers. They had two sons, before realizing about a decade later that they’d like to have another child. For fact, they needed money for Midge to have a surgical procedure to conceive, so they decided to sell seven of their cows!
As a result, 16 years after their second son was born, Midge gave birth to daughter Bobbi. Another brother was born two years later. He has Down syndrome. Then, while researching how to care for special needs children, the couple saw a pamphlet that had a picture of a small boy who also has Down syndrome, and they adopted him soon thereafter. Later, a foster sister completed the family.
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As Bobbi Custer grew, she developed skills to assist people “that weren’t considered typical,” which serves a significant purpose in her business today.
Custer has several family members and close connections in the coffee trade industry, so it was a natural goal for her to own a coffeehouse. She graduated in 2014 from Heidelberg University in Tiffin. Her graduation present from her parents is The Spotted Cow Coffeehouse in honor of her favorite animal.
The Spotted Cow Coffeehouse serves its visitors three special ingredients: Product Quality, Spirit of Service, and Life of Opportunity. Its staff consists of manager Kathy Detwiler and seven employees, which has included Custer’s two younger brothers, plus other people with similar circumstances; “…so they can prove that they can offer quality in-service as well as the ‘typical person’.”
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Custer was honored as the 2017 Better Business Bureau Spark Award Reicipient for her work as owner of The Spotted Cow Coffeehouse.
The Menu:
Regular Beverages: Coca-cola products - $1; Iced Tea (Sweet, or Unsweet) - $1; Juice (Apple or Orange) - $1.25; Milk (Chocolate or White) - $1.50; Auto Drip Coffee - $1.50/$1.75/$2; Gatorade - $2; Red Bull - $2.25; Hot Chocolate - $2.75/$3.15/$3.50.
Specialty Beverages: Italian Soda - $1.50/$1.75; French Soda - $1.75/$2; Mango Tea, Peach Tea, Chai Tea, or Mint Tea - $1.80/$2/$3.50; Americano - $2.15/$2.65/$3; “Hyper Heifer” - $3/$3.15/$3.75; Latte - $3/$3.50/$4; Mocha - $3.50/$4/$4.50; Carmella - $3.65/$4.15/$4.60; Smoothie - $4/$5; “Dirty Chai Latte” - $4.15/$4.80/$5.25; Silver Moo - $4.25/$5.
Breakfast (6 a.m. to 11 a.m.): Amish Baked Oatmeal, or Quiche - $2.75; Waffle - $3.50; Breakfast Sandwich (croissant, or wrap) - $3.75; Breakfast Panini - $4.25; Biscuits & Gravy - $3.50/$4.75.
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Lunch (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.): “Just for Kid’s” Meals: Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup, or Pizzanini (Pepperoni) & Potato Chips - $5.
“Soup-of-the-Day” (could be): Cheesy Potato Soup, Chili, or Tomato Soup - $2.50/$4.50.
Sandwiches & Paninis: Grilled Cheese on French Bread - $3; Cheese Panini, or Chicken Salad Croissant - $6; Hot Ham & Cheese on French Bread, Pesto Grilled Cheese Panini, or Pizzanini - $6.25; Chipotle Chicken Panini, Feta Chicken Pesto Panini, or Italian Panini - $6.50; Club Panini on French Bread, or Turkey Bacon Avocado on Ciabatta Bun - $6.75.
Soup & Sandwich: $6.50 (half)/$8 (whole).
Side: Rue Farm Potato Chips - $ .75 a bag.
“Moovelous Munchies” (Sweet Treats from Alex Smith Desserts): Chocolate Chip Cookie - $1.25; Peanut Butter Cookie - $1.50; Brownie - $2; Pie - $2.25 a slice (Wednesday is half-price pie day!); Blueberry Muffin or Pumpkin Muffin - $3; Cinnamoo (“The Best Cinnamon Roll You’ll Ever Have”) - $3.75; Pumpkin Roll - $7/$13.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 7:30a.m. to 3 p.m.
More information: As a customer of The Spotted Cow Coffeehouse, you can enjoy the two Checkers & Chess tables; game pieces are provided and no reservation is necessary.
Halloween 2018 will bring The Spotted Cow Coffeehouse “Boo! Moo! Hot Chocolate and Popcorn Too” special event on the same day as Champaign County’s “Trick-or-Trick.” There will be assorted free games, along with free hot chocolate and popcorn for everyone. Call the coffeehouse for details.
Look for local restaurant profiles by Glenn and Kim Creyts every other week in “Life.” For inquiries regarding this column, and “Restaurant Profile” ideas and suggestions for future columns, please contact Glenn and Kim via e-mail: glenncreyts@att.net.
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