by Christy Gilpatrick
Hobbs Cafe is far from your average coffee stop. Nestled on Swarthmore’s main street at 1 Park Avenue, Hobbs sticks out as a break from the norm.
Chef and owner William Randall says that the cafe has turned out as he envisioned. “The idea was if we had soup, quiche, and sandwiches, we were basically free to do anything we wanted, whenever we wanted,” he explained. Now he’s taking things a step further: “The project I am working on now is advancing our sausage work. We also bake our own bread. That will be the focus for a while, and it’s going to be fantastic.”
Randall accumulated most of his culinary knowledge from his year as sous chef at Glen Mills’ Terrain. The French and English influence gained from Randall’s time at Terrain is clear in many dishes available at Hobbs. He also thanks Scott Schroeder of American Sardine Bar for inspiring him to always try something new.
Some new ideas being tested at Hobbs include selling pastries, paintings, jewelry and preserves from local Swarthmore artisans. The unique cafe offers breakfast and lunch, as well as weekend brunch, and dinner service on the first Friday of each month.
Hobbs strives for the best, and their coffee is admittedly delicious. Randall orders his coffee from a Fishtown roast house called ReAnimator, who pride themselves on single-origin coffees.
Hobbs’ espresso is imported from Italy, as Randall says he is not a fan of some of the lighter espresso roasts available locally. He feels the beans he gets from Caffe Motta provide the more classic taste of traditional espresso.
The decor is executed with a philosopher-style touch, achieving a feeling reminiscent of any Orson Wells novel where one could go to write a sonnet or play chess with elderly gentlemen smoking cigars. With a quirky display of paintings, a miniature replica of the leg lamp from the holiday classic A Christmas Story, and the beautiful bookshelf refurbished as a showcase for local craftsman, Hobbs is sure to please all audiences.For the guest who prefers to stick around, there’s an array of seating. A favorite of many is the cushioned booth on what doubles as the stage for Hobbs’ occasional music nights. There is also seating at booths, double tables, and a comfortable area of couches.
All audiences, including college student Lizzie Germer, who has been a regular customer of Hobbs for the past two years. She found Hobbs due to its convenient location right next to the SEPTA Media/Elwyn train line.
“It’s just so quaint,” Germer says. “They have good coffee and good food. Everybody in there is really friendly.”
Germer’s favorite drink is the tea soda, which is a unique twist on the traditional Italian soda. Normally made with flavored syrup and seltzer, Hobbs elevates this classic by adding a small amount of hot steeped tea.
Germer also has high praise for one of the Hobbs’ employees, saying Mike Corey is “the best barista ever.”
Corey has worked at Hobbs for three years and says it’s very fun, and that the staff is very close and spends time together outside of work, making Hobbs a more personal work experience than in a corporate coffee shop.
Hobbs Cafe is open from 7 a.m.–6 p.m., Monday–Friday; 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday; and 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday. The food includes a breakfast menu served until 11 a.m. and extends throughout the day on weekends. Hobbs’ lunch menu includes soups, salads, bagel sandwiches and regular sandwiches and a daily changing quiche selection. Hobbs also hosts brunch on weekends from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. and a dinner service each First Friday.
For more information, visit Hobbs’ website at hobbscoffee.com. Find Hobbs Cafe at 1 Park Avenue in Swarthmore, PA.
Photographs credited to Christy Gilpatrick.
