By Brianna Kudisch | Echo
Cathy Kerton-Johnson always dreamed of having a place filled with pretty things. When she saw Upland's need for a central community gathering spot, she imagined a cozy place that would connect the two sides of the town. The resulting space is The Bridge cafe.
It's a bright, open area filled with lights dangling from the ceiling. Shelves of worn books and nature photographs line the walls, giving off a comforting vibe. The aroma of coffee and tea steeps the air.
Kerton-Johnson's vision was more than just a pretty place; she saw a real need for the community to gather.
"I wanted it to be a more neutral space for all people in the community to meet," said Kerton-Johnson.
She recognized most spaces were separated: Taylor students connected with Taylor students and church members connected with other church members. Kerton-Johnson envisioned The Bridge as a place for the community to grow, meet and experience life together.
She wanted to foster that community by providing unique opportunities for community members of all life stages. One way she makes this a reality is by celebrating the talent right here in Upland. The Bridge displays handcrafted items from community members' Etsy shops. According to Kerton-Johnson, they've seen an increase in their sales.
"I felt like those people had to go outside of the town to actually show their work, and people didn't really know what existed here," Kerton-Johnson said.
Kerton-Johnson also created workshop evenings so people can share their skills. The Bridge is hosting a "Needles and Lattes" evening in October, which involves talented people coming in to teach a knitting and crocheting class. Kerton-Johnson also plans to start cooking classes this winter for students in the area.
The Bridge hosts early morning worship on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Kerton-Johnson explained it as "a time of worship, to soak in God's presence without an agenda."
The worship mornings attract about forty people each week, despite the 7 a.m. start. Freshman Ari Gibula regularly attends the worship mornings.
"It's teaching me to be content with resting in the peace of the Holy Spirit and listening to where He's moving," Gibula says.
Unlike previous attempts at local business startups, The Bridge was able to stay in business throughout the summer, thanks to the core group of people who continued to host regular meetings there.
When the cafe first opened its doors in March, skepticism ran high. Locals believed it would simply be a Taylor student cafe, creating initial disinterest among the community. On the contrary, Kerton-Johnson has seen many people walk through the doors-from families with kids to students to elderly people. After hosting a summer game night, she saw people from a come together who, without the game night, wouldn't have met.
Laura Bowell, who works at The Bridge, agreed that reactions to the cafe have been overwhelmingly positive. She remembers a couple from a Nordic country stumbled upon the cafe during a visit to the States. They were really excited about the French baguettes, and even declared them to be the best baguettes they've had outside of their country.
As for future plans, Kerton-Johnson hopes to create an outdoor seating area by next spring or summer. She also intends to add more dishes to the menu. In the immediate future, they will be hosting a fall-themed Saturday Morning Village Market on Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in its parking lot. The market will include food, as well as arts and crafts from local artisans.
Kerton-Johnson's original idea was a place for people to meet, chat and connect-and The Bridge has fit that vision perfectly. She explains it as "snapshots of what I've pictured in my mind." The Bridge remains a cozy, welcoming hideaway for the whole community, creating a bridge to bring Upland together.
