Just along the northeast corner of campus, students will discover a new restaurant, the College Corner Cafe, has popped up between the East Texas Bookstore and the Prairie Crossing Residence Hall.
College Corner Cafe manager Larry Smith, known to most as “Smitty,” has years of experience in the restaurant and entertainment business and seized the opportunity to create a restaurant- turned- college hangout for students in Commerce.
“Oglesby [Properties] wanted someone to do beer, burgers, and music for the college students,” Smith said. “I’ve been [in the music and restaurant business] for 45 years.”
Andrew Hackler, a senior Computer Information Systems major, was pleased with the College Corner Cafe, aside from a few hiccups.
“It has a great atmosphere and feels like a well-established restaurant,” Hackler said. “My only complaint is the fact that burgers don’t come with fries, nor does the menu specify that in obvious detail. Other than that, great food and decent prices. I think in the future, as the restaurant hopefully develops, evolves and matches the Commerce culture, it will provide the main avenue for a burger joint in Commerce. More institutions such as this can do nothing but better the city in the long run. The less that college students have to go to Greenville or Sulphur Springs for entertainment, the better.”
Cheyenne Ballard, a sophomore Communications major who also waitresses at the College Corner Cafe, enjoys the atmosphere and working environment that she experiences at the restaurant
“I think the place is great and we needed something like this in this small of a town,” Ballard said. “It’s a place to chill and hear music. I love working there and Smitty is a great person to work for. Each day there is kind of a new adventure from a staff point of view.”
Smith has experience managing bars and restaurants in Colorado, Texas, and California. He ran numerous restaurants in Dallas and Austin, which helped him to further his relationships within the music industry, meeting artists such as Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Fleetwood Mac.
Because of those relationships, Smith has collected large amounts of music memorabilia over the years, which he has on display in the College Corner Cafe.
“My place in Austin was a real meeting place,” Smith said. “I got really heavy in the Austin music scene, and 85 percent of this [memorabilia] I received personally.”
Smith has joined up with Brad Davis, a Grammy Award-winning singer song-writer and guitarist, to open up the music scene within Commerce, in hopes of bringing Texas A&M Commerce and the City of Commerce closer together.
“While we are here, we might as well have fun,” Smith said. “We want the college and town to get together.”
While Smith is looking to bring in larger artists, he is also looking to showcase local artists as well.
“I am bringing up at least one group a month from Austin,” Smith said. “I’ve already talked to some jazz groups here at the college. If [local artists] want to play, they need to come see me or Briley [Davis].”