A Talk with Taylor of Tay Tay’s Cafe

by Theodore O’Harra

At the corner of 5th Avenue and South Howard Street, on Lewis and Clark’s southern side, many students will notice that a new cafe has set up shop. Tay Tay’s Cafe only recently held its grand opening this April 22nd, but had maintained a soft open status for just around a month before their official opening. Two weeks after they first (officially) welcomed customers into their space, I had the pleasure of speaking to the owner of Tay Tay’s Cafe, Taylor Edwards. 

Taylor himself mainly grew up in California, but had moved between Washington and California throughout his childhood. His roots in Spokane extend to his great-grandparents, who once ran a shop on Sprague (where Tiger Tattoo currently operates). His grandmother grew up in Spokane and went to Lewis and Clark, while his grandfather attended Shadle High School. Taylor would go on to attend California State Fullerton before spending a decade living in Colorado, New Mexico, and Montana before finally settling in Spokane this last year. Throughout those ten years, Taylor worked in restaurants and bars wherever he resided, serving in noodle shops, steakhouses, brunch spots, fine dining, and even acting as the general manager of a brewery in Bozeman, Montana. Most recently, before opening Tay Tay’s Cafe, Taylor was the front house manager of Spokane’s Gander and Ryegrass on Main Avenue. With all of the experience he attained throughout the fifteen years of working “all across the board” in the food and service industry, Taylor was ready to take on the endeavor of having his very own space. 

If you haven’t had the time or motivation to stop by the lovely nook that holds Tay Tay’s Cafe, I would highly recommend it, as I personally thoroughly enjoyed my Chai latte and the ambiance, the gorgeous brick, plants, and art the cafe provides. I also quite enjoyed my time speaking with Taylor, who very graciously answered my questions. Taylor wanted to make it clear that the cafe is a “super student-friendly” space that welcomes LC students and parents to stop by after the 2:30 bell has rung for a nice cup of coffee or a sweet snack. If you’re still on the fence, I must mention that all of the cafe’s gorgeous muffins and treats are baked from scratch and made in-house, while their coffee and tea are sourced from local Spokane businesses (Anvil Coffee, Mandala Chai, and Revival Tea Company). “Anything we can get local, we get local.” However, perhaps best of all is that their northern wall has been designated as a “Pet Wall,” in which you may bring in a photo of your beloved animal companion to pin up on the gorgeous exposed brick. 

Tay Tay’s Cafe is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7:00am to 4:00pm, and Sunday from 7:00am to 12:00pm. You can find them online at www.taytays.cafe or on their Instagram @taytayscafe and visit them in person at 507 South Howard Street.

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Edited by Mara Bech