Then & Now
In 1986, two enterprising Bearcats decided that what Willamette really needed was a coffee shop run by and for students. Three decades later, The Bistro remains at the heart of campus. It’s the place to meet with friends and professors, study for a test, enjoy live music or open mic nights — and yes, grab a cup of coffee.
During a campus visit to celebrate The Bistro’s 30th anniversary, founders Eric FriedenwaldFishman ’88 (left) and John Donovan ’88 caught up with their old haunts (and their younger selves).
1991
1989
2011
Over the years, hundreds of student workers have poured lattes, served food and baked treats including the legendary Buzz bars. Pictured throughout the decades, The Bistro looks virtually the same — right down to the hand-me-down furniture.
2016
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
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