Elcy’s Cafe in Glenside is celebrating its 25th anniversary on September 11 of this year.
Founded by Lisa (Creighton) Rittler, her dream of a community cafe at Glenside Station has become a mainstay.
“She’s a great person. She helped me through the transition,” Amy Chapman, who assumed ownership over 15 years ago, said.
If you’ve wondered about the name’s origins, Elcy’s is a phonetic translation of Rittler’s pre-marriage initials (L.C.).
“She worked it into the spelling we all know today. When we bought it, we kept the name. I feel as though I’m a caretaker for her vision and continuing what she started,” Chapman, a Jenkintown resident, said. “It seemed like a cool opportunity that came at the right time. I had gone there myself for years with my kids when they were little for story time and different things they did at that time. Things fell into place from there.”
For Chapman, the journey has been part cafe ownership, part community building.
“The intricacies of operating inside a working train station have been very unique. It has a vibe that can’t really be manufactured,” she said. “We have a really nice relationship with SEPTA, and we have a variety of people who come in, both commuters and community. Those are the two pillars of our customer base that we seek to serve.”
For the 25th anniversary, Chapman is hoping to feature local nonprofits and small businesses on a monthly basis all year.
“We can help each other, and I want to use our platform to build community. Our tagline is ‘Creating community, one cup of coffee at a time.’ That’s throughout the DNA of Elcy’s, and I want to feature that prominently. I’m still working it out, but that’s my blueprint,” she said.
Among happenings within Elcy’s is a revolving local art gallery. Since January, the work of John Schwab has donned the walls.
“Our art director, Vivianna Calabria, does a fantastic job. It’s a wonderful vehicle to showcase artwork and it brings people joy. We get a lot of great comments on it,” Chapman said. “We try to be open about hosting events. We were a suburban site for the Philadelphia Orchestra mini concert series for a few years. The New Life Glenside carolers come by at Christmastime.”
From April to November each year since roughly 2010, the Glenside Farmers Market has unfolded every Saturday at 1 W. Glenside Avenue’s parking lot.
“The Farmers Market is a wonderful, impactful presence, and they’ve been a fantastic partner. They provide such support for vendors and local farmers. We’re really collaborative with them,” Chapman said.
“We’ve made it this far, and we’re super committed to continuing this mission. The loyalty is what has kept us going over the years. We’re so grateful,” she said. “We’re a gateway to Glenside. We’re lucky to be where people leave from and arrive to the area. That adds to the flavor.”
For updates on Elcy’s Cafe’s 25th anniversary events and offerings, you can check their Facebook page.
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Photos: Amy Chapman