Windy Hollow is bringing its comfort food and coffee to a new crowd, taking over the cafe space at Owensboro Community & Technical College’s main campus beginning August 18. Students, staff, and visitors will soon be able to grab everything from lattes and smoothies to burgers, wraps, and daily plate lunches without leaving campus.
The cafe will operate Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Campus Center at 4800 New Hartford Road. To celebrate opening week, customers who bring an OCTC cup or mug will receive a free iced tea or lemonade through August 28, limited to one per day.
The cafe menu will feature lattes made with locally roasted Gene’s Beans coffee, smoothies, burgers, tenders, wraps, salads, and daily plate lunches such as meatloaf with mashed potatoes on Tuesdays. Owners Evelyn Miller and Hallie McCarty, who also operate Windy Hollow Restaurant and Windy Hollow Biscuit House, said the menu will evolve based on campus demand.
“They haven’t had a hot food vendor since before COVID, so everybody seems to be really excited about this,” Miller said. “We’ll start with lunch items, coffees, and lattes, but we’re open to making changes based on what students and faculty want.”
McCarty will manage the cafe and serve as head barista.
“Making lattes is my happy place,” she said.
Miller agreed.
“She started at The Creme when she was in college, and just fell in love — fell in love with coffee and making coffee and seeing the smile on people’s faces when they eat it or drink it,” Miller said.
Though the cafe is new, Windy Hollow’s history in the Owensboro area dates back to 1964, when Hal and Tom Miller opened the original Windy Hollow Restaurant at Windy Hollow Lake. The family has continued to adapt over the decades, with the Biscuit House opening in 2022.
“I know our founders, Hal and Tom Miller, would be especially proud of serving students items that can be found in our restaurants as well as offering items never offered at Windy Hollow,” Miller said.
The cafe, original restaurant, and Biscuit House are all currently hiring, with applications accepted via email at [email protected].
