Cheney Depot Society and Eastern Coffee Roasters announce partnership to bring historic depot to life

CHENEY, Wash. – Apr. 29, 2025: The Cheney Depot Society and Eastern Coffee Roasters are excited to announce their partnership to bring new life to the soon-to-be restored 1929 Northern Pacific Railroad Depot located at 15 Union St. in Cheney, WA. The restoration project is set to be finished by late 2025, and Eastern Coffee Roasters will be the first tenants.

The Cheney Depot Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group of Cheney locals passionate about preserving the town’s rich history, is leading the renovation of the iconic Spanish-style depot. The nonprofit and its dedicated team of construction partners from Walker Construction & Terry Mourning & Associates designed the renovations with hopes for a coffee shop to one day fill the space.

Those hopes will soon come true.

Once the work is done, Eastern Coffee Roasters will open a cozy coffee shop with state-of-the-art roasting area in the 2,200-square-foot depot. As the Roasters’ flagship location, the new coffee shop will feature three dining areas where patrons can enjoy a light menu and single-origin coffee next to a warm double-sided fireplace. There will also be a large conference room for meetings, study sessions, and community events.

Eastern Coffee Roasters will revive the depot’s historic luggage and freight area for their coffee roasting operation. Customers can watch the craft roasting process and buy freshly roasted coffee. To make things easier for customers, the Roasters will launch a mobile app. The app will let customers order food and drinks ahead of time and pick them up at a special “curbside-to-go” door, making clever use of the depot’s previous ticketing area. A barista will bring the orders to their cars.

Eastern Coffee Roasters will also introduce a special “Depot Blend” coffee. All profits from this blend will go to the Cheney Depot Society to support the restoration project.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Eastern Coffee Roasters and welcome them as our first depot tenants,” said Susan Beeman, a Cheney Depot Society board member. “This project is about preserving history by creating a vibrant community space that breathes new life into the heart of Cheney.”

April Wright, co-owner of Eastern Coffee Roasters, added, “The depot has always been a symbol of connection and movement, and we’re honored to be a part of its next chapter. We can’t wait to welcome our customers to this beautiful historic building, where they’ll experience the best of Cheney’s coffee culture in a space that feels like home.”

The Cheney Depot will soon be a must-visit spot for coffee lovers and history buffs. Stay tuned for more updates and the grand opening later in 2025.

For more information, visit www.cheneydepot.com and www.easternroasters.com.