ELWOOD — A new breakfast and lunch café is coming to Elwood by the end of the year. The Press pays tribute to a downtown building’s past, while offering a new gathering place for the community.
Husband and wife, Jay and Susie Edwards, may be recent arrivals to the Elwood community, but they have quickly fallen in love with the locale.
The Edwards are native Nebraskans and were Cozad residents while Jay worked at the Tenneco before the plant closed in 2009. After moving around the United States, they were living in Columbus, Nebraska before making the move to Elwood.
The couple said they moved to be closer to family after the COVID-19 pandemic and wanted to live in a tight-knit community where they know their neighbors.
In March 2022, the Edwards were out-and-about in Elwood a noticed that the one-story brick building at 308 Smith Avenue was for sale.
Jay said he did some investigation and after a little convincing of Susie, negotiated to purchase the building. Their initial idea was to have the space in hand to possibly sponsor a developer who wanted to bring a business to Elwood.
However, the Edwards made the decision to move forward on their own with their own idea. There was something else they had noted about Elwood, that it lacked the amenity of a café style eatery.
Jay said outside of a new restaurant offering, they wanted to do this so the community had a spot they could call their own.
It has not taken long for Elwood to embrace the idea, Jay said they have received so much vocal support from residents, along with local economic development support and business leaders lending help and aid.
Turning the building into a café has been a long process as the Edwards found the building empty and must install the appropriate infrastructure for their needs.
The Edwards have been working with local contractors to get the building and business in shape. An Elwood woman helped to paint the inside, a business in Bertrand helped with the logo that is in the windows and they bought their coffee equipment from a Cozad business.
The couple noted there are a multitude of different resources in Elwood and the local area.
When asked about the name of the business, the Edwards noted the building used to be the office of the Elwood Bulletin newspaper. Alluding to the building’s past, they also plan to have their own fresh pressed coffee and pressed panini sandwiches, so the name “The Press,” seemed most fitting.
Susie said they plan to offer breakfast and lunch options, such as sausage and gravy biscuits, scramblers, sandwiches, soups, baked goods and a special of the day.
They plan to be open Monday and Friday and 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Edwards hope to have The Press open by the end of the year.
When asked about how they feel about opening this new business, Jay said that it is, “truly satisfying,” and noted they are small town people and the Elwood community, and their welcoming manner is why they are here.
Jay said they were inspired by the offerings of other small communities like Callaway, Arnold and Arapahoe and want the same for Elwood.
Susie said she is anxious to open and to give back some of the hospitality that the Elwood community has already shown them.
“This is our contribution to the community,” Jay said, “We want to add value to Elwood.”
