Saturday, April 23, 2011

Choo Choo Cafe



Barbara Hawley, Owner of Choo Choo Cafe, Erwin, Tennessee


Looking for coffee at 4 pm, we stumbled on this delightful cafe, tucked inside the Market Square Gallery on South Main Street. The former railroad store is something to see. Charming. Unique. Rich with history, good food, and southern hospitality.



Lights and minature villages, a huge Christmas tree decorated with Easter eggs. Is this a restaurant or antique store? Yes, both. And More. It's a museum and a walk through time with photographs of the town in the 30s and the railroad that plays such a vital role in the Erwin economy. The dining tables feature decoupaged photos of trains and ancestors. There's a dance floor and live music on the weekends.


We came for coffee and couldn't resist the homemade desserts, so we shared a triple layer, just-made chocolate cake. Melted in your mouth. Dinner nightly, says owner and hometown girl Barbara Hawley, is a $7.95 buffet.


A remarkable tribute to a remarkable heritage. Don't miss it.

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