Shelbie Harris
Staff Writer
The College Market located on the corner of Eighth Avenue and Halliday Street has once again opened its doors to the public.
The business came to be known as The College Market in the ‘50s and ‘60s.
It was a grocery store prior to becoming what we know it as today: a coffeehouse.
The College Market was around for nearly 20 years before its doors were closed and a for sale sign collected dust in the window in the summer of 2012.
Since acquiring new ownership and opening its doors in December of 2013 to both students and community members, The College Market provides a place to relax, study or simply enjoy oneself as the days change.
“To provide the community and the students of the university a place to be outside of home and work,” said Current Owner and President of Operations Bart Nawotniha.
“I’m a fan of the idea that everybody needs a third place. You have work and you have home, and both those things can be good and edifying, but there are stresses at work and stresses at home that sometimes you need a third place to get away and relax,” he continued.
Nawotniha is originally from Buffalo, N.Y., and managed a place there similar to The College Market.
Currently pursuing a master’s degree at Idaho State University, he participated in the culinary program for more than two years prior to its termination.
When asked about the reopening of The College Market, Nawotniha said, “When [the Culinary Program] ended, this place was open, there wasn’t a coffee shop nearby. People missed the place, as well as it was in the neighborhood and near the university, so I figured I’d take my favorite job ever and do it.”
The market offers a large collection of home-roasted coffee, a selection of grilled wraps, panini sandwiches and garden fresh salads.
From company dinners to business meetings, to poetry readings and open mic nights and all of the late night cram sessions or early morning coffee rushes in-between, The College Market provides many services.
Students now have another location to display their artwork and one more business to provide an outlet for research and project assignments.
Some possibilities include designing business cards or fabricating a new bike rack to be installed in the front area of the store.
These are just a few of examples of benefits already provided.
All of Nawotniha’s staff is either attending the university or a local high school.
“My goal for this place is to do as much as I can to tie the community, neighborhood, and university together. I want to provide a great place for all populations to enjoy,” said Nawotniha.
