New Café hopes to become a true aggie tradition

    On Main Street in Logan just north of 100 North, where the old Gandolfo’s used to be, is a sandwich shop decorated with USU memorabillia. There are pictures of Old Main, a big screen TV, Aggie sports jerseys and pictures of the one of the most famous events on campus: True Aggie night.

    In spirit of the midnight tradition held by USU students, the True Aggie Café is one of the newest hangouts for students in Logan. At least that’s what store owner Richard Steele said he hopes the Café will become.

    When student walks into the soup and sandwich shop, they will see college textbooks and may even be asked by the Café staff if they have a textbook they want to sell. It may perhaps be a little strange to some, but Steele said such a combination is a goal he has always had.

    “I have been in the textbook business for a long time, and I wanted to combine it with soups and sandwiches as a fun hangout for college students,” Steele said.

    Back in April, the store opened and since then Steele said he has seen a steady stream of customers, some of which are customers from his old book store location a few blocks north. One of the biggest challenges so far, he said, is that most students don’t know about the store yet.

    Steele said he wants to use his store as a place where students can feel comfortable hanging out. He said he hopes to attract students to the store through fun activities, special deals and sporting events like away football and basketball games shown on the big screen. In respect for the Café’s namesake, Steele said he will have extended hours and specials on True Aggie night; he said he wants the students to come to his store to work out some premidnight jitters.

    During normal business hours, students can take their unwanted school books and sell them to Steele for cash. As an incentive to buy and sell books at his store, Steele said he gives students a free sandwich for every purchase or buyback over a certain amount. From what he has heard, students have been very enthusiastic about his sandwich and book deal.

    “Once students have been here, they turn out to be very loyal and they say, ‘I will tell all my friends and roommates,'” Steele said.

    Also, the True Aggie Café is the only place off campus that sells Aggie Ice Cream, Steele said. So now, students have another place to get their Aggie Ice Cream fix.

    The café is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. True Aggie Café is located at 117 N. Main. Parking is available in front of the store, on Main Street, as well as at the rear of the building.

    Steele said he has enjoyed running the True Aggie Café and looks forward to the time when students choose his café as a place to hang out.

    “I’m enjoying watching it grow,” Steele said. “The idea has been in my head for a long time. Making it a physical reality has been a lot of fun.”

–dallin.koecher@aggiemail.usu.edu