Coffee house pioneer Gene Coster is fondly remembered for his love of the Hillcrest community by the many regulars who found friends and camaraderie in his shop
On Feb. 21, the renovated Hillcrest sign spanning University Avenue by the corner of Fifth Avenue was mounted and ceremoniously re-lit after a brief hiatus.
Nearly 30 years after it closed, a Quel Fromage friends Facebook page remains: “For all of those who gathered, worked and played together at the granddaddy of San Diego coffee houses, a place to share photos and stories and to reconnect to each other.”“The Quel was a place to breathe, think, decompress, mingle and perhaps shape ways forward in company with a merry band of others doing similar things,” wrote John Rippo, longtime publisher of The Espresso coffee house and cafe newsletter.
Enduring relationships brewed along with the coffee. Couples met there on a first date, and one liaison even led to a marriage at Coster’s Hillcrest home. Some referred to the coffee house entrepreneur as the unofficial mayor of San Diego; others called him a hero. “He was very loved wherever he went ... interesting, complex, quiet but very funny, poetic ... I have 55 of his poems,” Ellen says.
The coffee shop is gone, but Coster’s spirit remains: “Whenever I see that Hillcrest sign lit, it will remind me of Gene,” says Rippo.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Southwest Airlines ups its caffeine game by introducing in-flight bottled iced coffeeFor $4 or through a valid drink coupon, passengers can purchase the chilled coffee option on flights across 100 destinations.
Read more »
Coffee County Arts Alliance hosts the Atlanta Pops Orchestra featuring: Chloe AgnewDr. Ken Thomas and Donnia Rambin join News4 this morning to promote the Atlanta Pops Orchestra featuring: Chloë Agnew concert coming to Enterprise! The concert will be March 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the Enterprise High School Performing Arts Center.
Read more »
Column: Did Dion Rich 'crash' his own celebration of life?He was known for his gatecrashing exploits at Super Bowls, Oscars, Grammys and Olympics, but also for his big heart in supporting kids and causes.
Read more »
Did Starbucks Really Put Olive Oil in Coffee?“There was little to say but that it tasted like a large spoonful of olive oil in coffee.” Gideon Lewis-Kraus tries the new Starbucks Oleato.
Read more »
Column: How I finally learned to care about Orange County's crumbling coastlineWhy feel sorry for people who can afford to move away from the ravages of climate change and who have historically never cared about the issues affecting O.C.’s poorer cities?
Read more »
Column: Hydrogen cars should be a bigger part of California's battle against carbon emissionsCalifornia should invest more money into nurturing the use of hydrogen vehicles, not just pouring funds into plug-in electric cars.
Read more »