When you're working on a stressful deadline and you just can't stand looking at your apartment or office for one more second, head to Nostalgia Café, the perfect place in Salt Lake City to buckle down. There are plenty of seats and tables and the shop's loyal customers know how to keep the noise to a minimum. And the fuel isn't bad, either—freshly made sandwiches, sweet and savory crepes, coffee, tea, yerba mate, soda and more will help you power through your project or paper.
Open since 2004 under previous management, the café is currently owned and operated by couple Tim and Marcello Rikli. Surrounded by an intelligent, creative vibe, customers can be found cozied up in a corner, curled up with a good book or sitting around a table big enough to fit an entire study group.
And it's no wonder, since its owners are so friendly and warm. "Marcello and I and all our baristas have made some really good friendships with a lot of our customers," co-owner Tim Rikli says. He and Marcello pride themselves on having some of the best baristas in the business. "They really go out of their way to work together and make sure the customer has a great experience and leaves happy."
The Riklis love their customers and the atmosphere they have created. "It's a place to go and relax," Tim continues. "It's a judgment-free zone. Sit and cruise the internet, do some homework, meet and talk with friends and make new ones. It's just an amazing place."
He says he and the other employees love seeing their familiar, loyal customers, but they also offer a warm welcome to new faces eager for a cup of coffee and great food to help them get through a tough school year.
The Riklis reestablished Nostalgia in 2012. They had been looking for a good location for a coffee shop when they heard about the previous Nostalgia, which had just shut its doors. "We walked around the location and looked into the empty shell of where Nostalgia once was, and we knew instantly that this is what we were looking for," Marcello says. They are pleased with the neighborhood and the rich mix of cultures and diverse backgrounds their customers share.
In addition to offering a great space,the shop also participates in gallery strolls and features art from local artists.
"Nostalgia is a place where you can be yourself," Tim points out. "It's nostalgic. It's the place you remember where you worked, lived and studied from, where you met that special person. It's the place where you figured out your next move in life while sipping on coffee. Nostalgia is good memories."
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