George Fox University Buys The Coffee Cottage

Reported By: Benny Schorie

Photo Courtesy: @coffeecottagenewberg on Instagram

On Wednesday, it was announced that George Fox University (GFU) had bought The Coffee Cottage, a popular local café on Hancock Street. The business officially changed ownership and will cease normal operations on Jan. 31. The announcement came as a surprise to the business’s employees, the Newberg community, and the GFU student body. 

The news was shared on Facebook by Suzy Wilkins on behalf of her friend and General Manager of The Coffee Cottage, Krystal Stevens. She said, “the buildings themselves (cafe and drive thru), and NOT the business, are what has been purchased.” Wilkins also shared a statement from GFU: “‘George Fox is actively negotiating with potential operators to run businesses in these spaces. Those discussions are ongoing and unfortunately have not been concluded as of this morning [1/17/2023].’” The employees were given notice within the same week as the news broke to the public.

The Coffee Cottage became the first coffee shop in Newberg in 1990 and changed owners in 2019 when it was purchased by Demetri Tsohantaridis whose law office is across the street. According to a GFU Facebook post from Mar. 2019, Tsohantaridis said, “I always joked with my wife that I wanted to have my law office there, but people don’t want to meet their lawyer at a coffee shop. So I got as close as I could.” 

Wilkins shared her thoughts about Tsohantaridis’s decision to sell the space. “I’m so disappointed in the choices that have been made by the owner(s) and the selfishness in which they have made those decisions. However, it is not my place to pass judgment, for God is far more capable and just than I.”

Wilkins updated her post on Jan. 18 in which she said, “it appears that there is some sort of tangible business plan in place, however, it is yet to be finalized. It has been brought to my attention that there is a strong possibility to keep The Coffee Cottage open in a similar capacity.” However, since GFU has only purchased the buildings and not the business, there will be distinct changes even if the space remains a coffee shop and café.