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Once a busy train station, the Coffee Depot is now a café, offering people a taste of history with their favorite drinks.
Cindy Shogren came to Sanpete 15 years ago with her husband, but the congregation she and her husband were part of started shrinking.
“The leadership decided to invest resources for something new in the community,” Shogren said, “so we raised funds from all over the country, and that little congregation helped make a gathering place in the community.”
The original train depot was located on the other side of town, where it once welcomed travelers arriving by rail. As the years passed and train travel declined, the depot was relocated and eventually abandoned. For a time, the building sat empty, until a group of local people saw potential in the building and decided to renovate it.
“In the 70’s the city decided to move its location to where it is today. And it sat there for a few decades,” Shogren said. “It was just really deteriorating, and they were making plans to tear it down, but some people were against that. So they were able to get some funds to do a big remodel. And one of the funding criteria is that whoever occupies the building has to be the tourist information center, and that’s great for us. So we have our little corner dedicated to that.”
Having the tourist information center works out for them because they receive lots of travelers that want a place to learn about Sanpete County.
“They kept as much of the original structure as possible to preserve the building’s history,” Shogren said.
The Coffee Depot has lots of remnants from the past that most people wouldn’t even know about.
“One of the cool things that we did when we were getting ready to have a coffee house,” Shogren said, “is our counter space is made out of reclaimed wood, and that wood is the old, old, old NS gym bleachers. So when you come in and see the numbers on the counter, it’s part of the old school.”
The Coffee Depot isn’t just a cafe, but also a meeting spot for religious gatherings.
For Shogren, the Coffee Depot is more than just a business, it’s a reflection of her faith. “We have the ministry that runs it, but ultimately, God is the real owner,” she said.
“We want people to know that they are loved here,” Shogren said. “But our main goal is to provide great food, great service, and a great atmosphere.”
One regular is sophomore Wyatt Bills, who started coming to the Coffee Depot at the end of last year.
“I was bored,” Bills said, “so I decided to check it out. I loved it so much that now I go there for lunch every school day, and have for about 6 weeks. Pretty much all of the food and everything that I order drink-wise here is just absolutely delicious, and also just the atmosphere and the vibe. It’s just really nice here.”
For Bills, the welcoming environment is a big part of what makes the Coffee Depot special.
“I feel like every other coffee shop I go to, everyone is just super dismissive to me,” Bills said. “But here, they have a whole conversation with me while they are making my coffee. It’s just nice people and a good atmosphere.” Today, the Coffee Depot stands as a local landmark. Whether it’s a place to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee or to connect with friends, the café serves as a social gathering spot with deep historical roots.
