By JENNIFER MOONSONG
Glasgow News 1
Walking into The King’s Cafe on College Street, a coffee lover will be enraptured by the sweet aromas of myriad coffee flavors and made-from-sratch baked goods. Etched on the glass windows as you enter are the words, “The King’s Cafe”. Some patrons notice while others do not, that there is a distinct swirl within the letterin, in the shape of Elvis Presley’s iconic hair.
Magan Peden, owner/ operator of The King’s Cafe, drew inspiration from Elvis and her enduring love of the “oldies” to name her hot spot for coffee and baked goods.
JENNIFER MOONSONG
“Elvis is definitely inspiration for the coffee shop name,” said owner-operator, Magan Peden.
“My grandfather was musician, he would play lots of songs from Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and many more from that era,” she added, speaking of her musical upbringing.
“But I got even more into Elvis’ music, right after I got my drivers license. There was a music store in Glasgow called Ramey’s Records, I went there pretty regularly. The owner would recommend some great vinyls, including some from The King himself, even had a whole wall of Elvis memorabilia in the store, and always had an interesting fact about older bands to share while he was at it,” Peden said.
Unlike many from her generation, Peden is well versed in the classic rock, rockabilly and do-whop sounds of the 1950s and 60s.
“Growing up we were always listening to ‘oldies’ on the radio, anywhere from the 1940s to the 80s. So it’s familiar, it’s nostalgic, and there’s so much variety, I just don’t get tired of it,” she said.
One might wonder how the love of the “oldies” translates into being a coffee shop owner, and how the two combined for The King’s Cafe.
“I had worked as a barista for a few years before opening a shop. Even prior to getting a job in coffee, it’s always appealed to me. It’s a creative outlet, coming up with drink ideas, learning the science to make that perfect espresso shot, and being able to make someone’s day better just with a cup of coffee. It’s a great feeling to see someone’s face light up when they love their drink,” Peden said.
The King’s Cafe opened on Jan. 8 of 2018. Coincidentally, or perhaps not, Jan. 8 is Elvis’s birthday.
Peden has allowed her clientele and presence to grow organically. Five years later, she has quite the steady stream of customers. Regulars may know, or may not know, the story of the shop’s name, but have most likely seen the portrait of Elvis and the record wall.
“Having a small business in a smaller town, you get to know the regulars, and look forward to seeing them at the same time just about everyday. I’ve met a lot of people, and made friendships that I wouldn’t of had the opportunity to, if it wasn’t for being at the shop,” she said.
The cafe is open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. until 7pm, and Saturday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
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