Station Cafe Open In Gravette
THE STATION CAFE BRINGS HEARTY, HOMESTYLE FARE TO GRAVETTE
Dierek and Dani Madison have opened the Station Cafe in Gravette. Open hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
GRAVETTE — We’re going into the final third of the year. The kids are back in school and fall sports have begun. Autumn activities are filling the calendar and it seems that some days there’s not enough time to prepare a healthy family meal. Dani and Dierek Madison have the perfect solution to feeding the family on those busy days. They invite everyone to come dine with them at the newly opened Station Cafe.
The restaurant opened for business Friday, Aug. 24, at 106 First Avenue N.E., just north of Main Street. The building was formerly home to the In-Zone Restaurant. Station Cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and sometimes later on home ballgame nights. It is closed on Sunday. An official opening and ribbon cutting took place Sept. 5.
The Madisons are Arkansas natives. Dani grew up in Rogers and Springdale. Dierek is from Augusta in northeast Arkansas. They met when they were both cheerleaders at the University of Arkansas. They were married in 2004 and moved to Rogers. Both filled in as staff at the original Station Cafe in Bentonville.
The Station Cafes are owned by Dani, her brothers and sisters. The Bentonville restaurant recently moved from its original location on the square to 409 S.E. Sixth St. when the building sold and the new owner chose not to renew the lease. It will continue to be operated by Dani’s siblings, but the Madisons recently moved to Gravette to run the restaurant here.
The Madisons are parents of three children. Their daughter Drew, almost 12, is in sixth grade. Their son Drake, 10, is in fourth grade and has signed up to play football; and their youngest daughter, Darbi, is only 2. Dierek says their hobbies have always been tied to the children’s activities and he has coached in a baseball travel league and for youth league basketball and football.
The Madisons have worked for several weeks and completely remodeled the Station’s new home. The exterior features rustic wooden posts reminiscent of railroad ties and is decorated with attractive potted plants and hanging baskets of flowers. The interior walls have been painted a dark charcoal gray and are adorned with railroad signs and prints of locomotives with red and white accents. Tables are topped with a striking red and white check design and eye-catching railroad art fills the north window. Tiffany-style lights hang from the ceiling.
Menu items mirror the foods on the menu at the popular Bentonville location, but Dierek says he has some pretty talented cooks who will probably be creating some new dishes too. The famous Station Cafe steakburgers top the menu and are served with fries or a side salad. They range all the way from the ultimate, an Angus steakburger with fried egg and bacon stacked between two grilled cheese sandwiches, through a barbecue Texas burger to a chili cheeseburger and steakburgers or double steakburgers topped with bacon.
Many other popular sandwiches are available, including patty melts, BLTs, grilled cheese, Reubens, grilled chicken or ham and cheese and barbecue sandwiches. Egg salad, tuna salad and chicken salad are served on your choice of bread or croissant. All sandwiches are served with chips and a daily half-sandwich special with soup or salad and a drink is only $9.95.
Diners with heartier appetites will enjoy the dinners, including chicken fried steak, meatloaf, chuck steak, chicken tenders, ham, pork loin and chicken or veggie quesadillas. All dinners are served with Texas toast and one side. Sides include onion rings, a variety of fries, cheesy potatoes or mashed potatoes and gravy. Other sides are green beans, fried okra, potato salad, garden salad and fruit.
Soup and chili, by the cup or in a bowl, will be popular as cooler temperatures arrive. Other choices include foot-long hot dogs and corndogs, baked potato, Frito pie and a taco tater. A variety of kids meals are available and are served with fries and a drink. They include junior-sized steakburgers and quesadillas, mac and cheese, chicken tenders, corn dogs, hot dogs and grilled cheese.
The Station offers plenty of opportunities to satisfy one’s sweet tooth. The dessert menu includes fruit pies, coconut cream pie and walnut pie. Large brownies, with or without walnuts, can be eaten plain or topped with ice cream. Ice cream lovers can choose their icy treat in a cup or in a cone. Sundaes, root beer floats and a variety of shakes and malts are available.
Hungry diners can start their day early at the Station with a full breakfast menu. Breakfast plates include eggs, choice of bacon, sausage or ham, potatoes and breads. A variety of breakfast croissants are available or you may choose French toast, pancakes or biscuits and gravy. Kids’ meals include pancakes, French toast, eggs and toast, all served with choice of bacon or sausage and a drink.
Breakfast items are served all day. Lunch is served, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Madisons invite everyone to come in, get acquainted and enjoy a relaxing meal. The phone number at the Station Cafe is 479-344-6010 if you choose to call and make reservations or place a takeout order.