Dillingham's Christian Youth Center had a soft opening today for their coffee shop.
Dillingham has another coffee spot in town. Today was the soft opening for the Christian Youth Center’s Coffee Corner. Tyler Romo is the center’s director.
"We are a non-profit entity," he says, "so this isn't like a small business venture. We'd like to have this facility funded by more than just the church communities, which have kept us funded, kept the fuel in the tank."
A few customers trickled in today. Romo says that while they are ready to serve hot drinks and pastries there are still some renovations to complete before the grand opening. He wants to put in a commercial dishwasher, finish the wooden floor, and do some electrical work.
Romo estimates that the Youth Center currently serves meals and provides a space to play to 15 to 30 children a day. He hopes that they coffee corner will provide more funding and will make the center more appealing to high schoolers
"Right now, mostly, we're just kind of oriented towards the really young--elementary school and middle school. And the high school kids, there's no draw for them. And we want them to have a safe clean place to come where there's not drugs or violence or anything like that," says Romo.
The Coffee Corner is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact the author: avery@kdlg.org
