Salt City Coffee officially opened its doors in September inside the old McNeil Firehouse. This marks the company’s fifth location, according to their website, selling all things coffee, as well as tea, hot chocolate, bagels, sandwiches, and pastries.
This on-campus space was originally announced to be remodeled into a Café Kubal in 2024. Spokesperson for Le Moyne College, Joe Della Posta, shares, “We were originally interested in partnering with Café Kubal for the McNeil Firehouse. However, the company was going through some internal changes and rebranding.”
In February, Kubal closed its original location in Eastwood for “rebranding” according to a Syracuse.com article, only a few weeks after closing its location in downtown Auburn. Kubal still operates at several other locations.
Now, Le Moyne’s completely renovated building is home to Salt City Coffee on the first floor, and space for the college’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program on the second floor.
Funding for the firehouse’s revamp was provided through state government support as well as a “significant gift from Dan McNeil III for the project,” Della Posta shares. $250,000 of that funding came from State Senator Rachel May. The full amount of the renovation could not be disclosed.
Inside the coffee shop, the space is clean and modern, providing customers with traditional tables
and chairs as well as couches to sit and lounge. The brick walls, red ceiling, and fireman’s pole in the center of the seating area stand as a reminder of the previous firehouse.
Their setup gives the atmosphere a relaxed, laid back vibe perfect for meeting a friend for coffee or for a single person focusing on getting work done.
If you’re looking for some fresh air or a spot to enjoy nice weather, there is seating on the front patio right outside the firehouse. Many students, faculty, and members of the community seem to be enjoying this space.
The first floor of the old firehouse hosts the coffee shop which has been named “Barb’s Bistro” in dedication to Le Moyne’s Barb Karper who serves as the assistant vice president of The Grace Center for Faith and Community. Karper shares that Dan McNeil (the firehouse’s namesake) was the one who wanted to pay tribute to her. She says, “He wanted a coffee house named for me… I am deeply honored.”
Karper was hired at Le Moyne in 1974 where she has spent the past 50 years of her career. Over the longevity of her career, she has worked to make improvements in the student development office as well as the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging office. Her work has improved different aspects of Le Moyne and proves she is certainly deserving of this recognition.
Sarai Lira, a Salt City Coffee customer, has visited Barb’s Bistro and shares her admiration for the remodel, “I think my favorite part about the coffee shop is the big glass windows.”
At first Lira admits she was a bit skeptical about the opening of Salt City Coffee since Le Moyne had just opened a Starbucks inside the Dolphin Den right on campus at the start of the semester.
“I would assume students wouldn’t make that walk since there is a Starbucks inside Le Moyne College,” Lira states. Nonetheless, she has visited Salt City Coffee twice to try their Matcha tea drinks.
Lira explains how she envisions herself using the space for more than just coffee runs: “I do see myself going to the coffee shop in the future during winter time to do work when I don’t feel like walking to the library, since I live closer to the coffee shop.”
This improved space on campus seems to be a hit, providing the community with a multipurpose space to quickly grab some caffeine or to stay for a bite to eat while getting work done.
