OU STUDENT OWNS RESTAURANT IN CATE
History junior Greg Homdrom opened the OUter Cafe.
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"I got tired of working for people. That's how the idea was born."--Greg Homdrom, history junior
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Almost every restaurant on the OU campus is either owned by the university or leased by a privately-owned company. One is owned by an OU student.
That one is OUter Cafe.
OUter Cafe, located in Cate Center, serves coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. It opened on Sept. 2 and is owned by history junior Greg Homdrom.
Homdrom said his father owned his own businesses and it inspired Homdrom to open his own business.
"I got tired of working for people," Homdrom said. "That's how the idea was born, about three years ago."
Homdrom's grandfather died last winter and left him money, which he invested in coffee equipment.
After David Annis, assistant director of Housing and Food Services, gave him permission to open his cafe, Homdrom leased the space. He pays OU a percentage of his gross profits.
"Annis is a great guy. He's really helped me a lot, getting this going," Homdrom said. "He's been real supportive. He always makes sure that things are running smoothly."
Inside the OUter Cafe, an espresso machine stands on a coffee cart. Homdrom or one of his employees stands behind the cart to take orders. Students sit at tables, drinking coffee, reading, studying, or chatting.
One of his customer, Ceri Sullivan, psychology sophomore, has gone to the cafe at least once a day since it opened.
"It adds a more festive setting to the center," Sullivan said.
Homdrom gets his coffee syrups from Italy.
"I try not to cut costs with the product, and I serve the best coffee product I can find," he said. "I want to have a reputation for good service to students, being one myself."