BISTRO & COFFEEHOUSE by day SC's BISTRO and Coffeehouse
604 Highway 6
Ashland, NE
ph: 402-944-2125
ashland
SC Station
Bistro & Liquid Therapy
Operating Hours
Monday - Friday
11 am to 9 pm
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Saturday Sunday
9 am to 9 pm
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Sunday
9 am to 8 pm
New Ashland Eatery
By Suzi Nelson
Ashland-Gazette

Steve and Cathy Dagley turned the "open" sign on at SC Station Coffee House and Bistro on Dec. 15 after six months of remodeling the old Country Market building on Highway 6. Ashlanders were clamoring for the new place to open, especially after getting a taste of the Dagley's food just down the road at their Greenwood eatery. The couple opened SC Station in Greenwood last May. It is now closed for the winter season.
While Steve and his crew were tearing down walls, putting up new drywall and painting, customers frequently stopped to check on their progress and ask when the new restaurant was opening. "There was a lot of customer pressure to open," Steve said.
In fact, when the Dagleys opted to close the Greenwood location just before opening the Ashland restaurant, the regulars from Greenwood were a little lost. But it was only a short time before they found their way to Ashland. "One of our first customers (in Ashland) was someone who came to eat breakfast in Greenwood every day," said Cathy.
The remodel was a family project, with help from Steve's parents from Waverly, his sister and several of the Dagley's blended family of six children. Steve's Waverly connection is what brought the couple to the Ashland and Greenwood areas. Steve, a 1972 graduate of Waverly High School, and Cathy were looking to start a business near his hometown.
The two had been living in South Dakota when they decided to make the move to Nebraska. They researched areas prime for business opportunities and determined Ashland was a vibrant, thriving community.
"You can see the potential for growth," said Cathy. The Dagleys became so enamored with Ashland, they also made it their home, buying a house in the community a few months ago.
Neither Cathy nor Steve has a lot of experience with owning a restaurant. But both have extensive knowledge of business, having worked in property management and marketing.
When determining what type of restaurant they wanted to own, they decided to bring the flavor of Cathy's home to their new business. Cathy grew up in the Seattle area, where coffee is king.
They decided to base their concept on the coffee houses of Seattle. But they were unsure that a coffee house alone would succeed in Ashland, so they added "bistro" to the mix.
"We love the coffee house type atmosphere and bistro type food," said Cathy. "These are the types of places we hung out." The Dagleys define bistro as "fast casual dining," said Cathy. It is based on an Italian word that means hot sandwiches, she explained. While the food may be prepared in a timely manner, it is nothing like "fast food," Cathy added.
Instead, customers order at the counter from a menu that contains entrees, sandwiches, salads and a special of the day. Breakfast items are also included, and they have a line of bakery goods. While the menu is not extensive, there is a lot of variety. And the Dagleys hope to add items as time goes on. "We'd like to be able to upgrade and make a more evening type meal," said Steve. A kids menu is also in the works, he added.
Of course, coffee is a dominant aspect of the SC Station atmosphere. They sell it by the pound, but a hot steaming cup served in their casual atmosphere is also a draw. They have a full espresso line, with latte, cappuccino, breve', hammers and French press coffees.
While many in Ashland may not know what all of these coffee options are, Cathy said the customers are more informed than she imagined. "In Greenwood we had to do a lot of educating. People here are walking in and knowing what they want," she said.
The beverages don't stop at coffees. There are also fountain drinks, teas, juices, smoothies, frappes and Italian sodas, another item less familiar to local customers. An Italian soda is a flavored club soda. You can have it plain, or with cream for an added touch of decadence.
The Dagleys have 39 flavors that can be incorporated not only into the Italian sodas, but also any of the coffee drinks in combinations limited only by the customers' imaginations.
As they planned their new business, Steve and Cathy realized there was a need for a drive-through restaurant in Ashland, so they created the community's first.
"Part of being a success in business is providing a service for people in the area," said Steve.
They also felt customers would like a place where they can relax but have access to the latest technology. So they have added wireless Internet access for customers with laptop computers.
Having a place to sit with your laptop and sip a cappuccino is just what the Dagleys are after.
"Our desire is for people to have a comfortable place to go with no smoking, soft music in the background and comfortable seating," said Cathy.
The earth tones on the walls, rich natural woods and old world décor are reminiscent of the Tuscan area of Italy, said Cathy. While the history of the building is not quite as old as that of Italy, the Dagleys have used it as part of the décor. They left a cinderblock wall uncovered to preserve a piece of the building's past and rather than covering the concrete floor, added stain and varnish to create a unique floor covering.
Another unique aspect of SC Station is "Tips for a Cause."
"We donate all tips to non-profit organizations," said Cathy.
The Dagleys choose a new charity each month, with preference to local organizations, she said.
©Suburban Newspapers 2008
SC's BISTRO and Coffeehouse
604 Highway 6
Ashland, NE
ph: 402-944-2125
ashland