2 April 2024
HOLTON, KS (KSNT) — New owners will soon take over a cafe that’s been in Holton for nearly 60 years. But this long-lasting staple in the community isn’t going anywhere.
Cindy Stavropoulos and her husband John have ran Trails Cafe since 2003. Before they stepped in, it was owned by Johns dad and step-mom since 1987. Having been a staple in the community since 1965, they pride themselves on home comfort food with homestyle-friendly service.
After working in the business for just over 20 years, Cindy and her husband want to take a step back, enjoy their lives together and part ways with Trails Cafe on a positive note.
“We are still very positive and passionate about the restaurant,” Cindy Stavropoulos said. “We are not completely burnt out yet, so we felt like it was a good time to sell the restaurant.”
The idea to keep the cafe in the family didn’t slip past them. Cindy and John’s son Alex Mercer is a pitmaster himself, but knowing the cafe would need his full attention, Mercer ultimately decided go another route.
“I knew I wanted to keep doing competitive barbeque and then serve it on the side to the public during the week,” Mercer said. “People know Trails Cafe for chicken fried steak, and all that, and not brisket so that was kind of a determining factor for me.”
But just because new ownership is in the future, that doesn’t mean the cafe’s employees will be putting gloves on for the last time.
“Many have worked here for years that feel like family, and what we are hoping and what we’ve told our staff is that is someone buys the restaurant, they will maintain their jobs with the new owner,” Cindy said.
Knowing the departure will be bittersweet, Cindy has high hopes that whoever takes over will be able to continue what they’ve built.
“We are in great hopes that someone will buy it, and will walk in the door, and it will be a turnkey operation for them where they can just pick up where we left off,” Cindy said.
Mercer tells 27 News that the decision to continue his passion for barbecue and not take over ownership of the restaurant was a challenging one. As for Trails Cafe, Cindy says that while they have no offers yet, they do have three people interested. The goal is to sell the cafe within the year, and to do so without people noticing a difference.