Cynwyd's Trail's End Cafe Celebrates Grand Opening

A little piece of history in Bala Cynwyd celebrated its next chapter recently when the Trail's End Cafe held its official grand opening ceremonies.

The cafe is located in the old Cynwyd train station building, which now sits at the head of the Cynwyd Heritage trail just off Montgomery Avenue on 375 Conshohocken State Road.

The station is 124 years old and has alternatively served as a post office, a home, and a "hub for coal transport," according to the Inquirer.

The station had been abandoned for more than two decades since it had served as part of a SEPTA rail line from Cynwyd, into Manayunk, and ending at Ivy Ridge, owners said. From 1986 to 2007, the line was defunct.

Then in 2007, the building was restored through a joint partnership by the Lower Merion Historical Society, Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, and SEPTA, owners said.

Today, in addition to the cafe, there is a SEPTA waiting room, a restroom for SEPTA workers, a Trails Head room maintained by the Friends of the Heritage Trail, and an upstairs apartment occupied by a part-time caretaker.

The cafe, opened by Tracey Katz and Julie Barol, is meant to serve as a "community hub" that is within walking range of several neighborhoods.

“There is a famous line from Gertrude Stein about Oakland – There is no “There,” there,” said Barol. “We envision the Cynwyd Station as the “There” for this community. We will keep the café open seven days a week, for twelve or more hours a day, so that members of our community have a place to go and meet each other. We offer cold filtered water for trail users, the very best in coffee and tea; we created several spaces for quiet conversations or for a larger number of people talking across our custom made farm table. We are working with the Township and SEPTA to create a more inclusive surrounding.”

The station opened on May 31.

It's hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.