March 31, 1999
Solid Rock gives youth options
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Mix a New York Style deli, Christian music videos and teen activities. This recipe for success is the foundation for the Solid Rock Café, a new restaurant on Front Street that formally opened in mid January.
The Solid Rock Café was conceived of by members of the Grand Traverse Area Youth for Christ, which wanted to create a youth center that was self-supporting. They came up with the idea of using a restaurant to finance the youth center, providing a stable income and also a place for young people to work.
So far the loyal patrons, enthusiastic staff and flocks of youth coming in on weekend evenings have shown this is an idea whose time has come.
"I love it here, the surroundings and the environment are wonderful," said waitress Kris Joppich, a freshman at Northwestern Michigan College. "I come here to socialize and my boyfriend works here on the weekends."
The Solid Rock Café operates as a full-service deli during the day from Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. Organizers chose to make the restaurant a New York style deli because there was not another like it in Traverse City. The crisp, modern décor and heaping servings are attracting a loyal customer base.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 7 p.m. until midnight are set aside for youth activities, targeting teens ages 15-20. Activities include music, pool, Nintendo and video games, restricted access to the Internet and live bands. Most nights the youth center draws 20-30 teens and when there is live music the place has been packed to standing room only. Completing the inspirational atmosphere are Christian music videos that play on TV monitors perched around the café and inspirational posters lining the walls.
"Our number one goal is to minister to young adults and adults," said Gary Hogenboom of Glen Lake, chairman of the board for Grand Traverse Area Youth for Christ. "Christ is first in everything we do here."
Churches from all denominations contributed time, money, materials and volunteers to help set up the café. Before finalizing plans, organizers went straight to the source for ideas on setting up the restaurant and youth center: they interviewed numerous young people to get ideas and feedback.
"A lot of adults have great ideas on what is good for youth but the kids don't show up because it's not someplace they'd want to be," Hogenboom said. "The Solid Rock Café gives youth a safe environment where they can then take ownership of it."
The idea for a youth center began three years ago after a Spirit Alive week sponsored by the Faith Reformed Church. There it became apparent that there was a need for a safe place for teens to congregate, away from peer pressure.
"After the program I was taken aback by the number of young people who stood up and said they were leading double lives, fooling their parents and running around," said café director Greg Pierce of Peninsula Township. "Teens were crying out to the community to have a place to go and not be subjected to peer pressure."
Baywatch, an interdenominational organization of area youth ministers, began kicking around ideas. Grand Traverse Area Youth for Christ supported the idea of a café and youth center. When the Faith Reformed Church offered last winter to donate space in their building on East Front Street, the pieces began falling into place.
The idea for a café and youth center is new one and is being closely watched by Christian communities in other cities.
"Most youth centers die from lack of funding," Hogenboom said. "This has never been done before and I imagine a lot of people are looking to see how it is doing."