Three reasons to try BOPARC’s Eureka Cafe in Wiles Hill.
They say cooking is an art and baking is a science, but Eureka Cafe’s baked goods are undeniably artistic. Pastries are topped with delicately iced petals, cartoonish bushels of carrots, and from-scratch candies in the shapes of tulips and butterflies. Alex Layman might not wield a paintbrush, but he’s just as much an artist as he is Eureka Cafe’s baker.
Layman has been mixing up batter and frosting cupcakes since the cafe opened in 2023. Before that, he worked at other local bakeries and apprenticed under a handful of pastry chefs. But Eureka Cafe is unlike any of his previous gigs. In fact, it’s unlike any other cafe in town—this spot for light meals and treats is owned by the Morgantown Board of Parks and Recreation.
Municipally owned cafes aren’t a new idea, but they’re more common in big cities like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or Washington, D.C. It’s simple: Add a cafe to a community space—like the Wiles Hill Community Center—and it will complement the space’s programs—like the center’s art studio and fitness center. Plus, in today’s digital era, who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned third space?
From artsy pastries to adjacent amenities, here are three reasons to give Eureka Cafe a try:
The pastries are seriously Instagram-worthy.
If you’re a follower of phone-eats-first philosophy, this cafe is sure to make a regular appearance on your social media feeds.
Decorating actually isn’t Layman’s favorite part of the process, but you wouldn’t guess that by looking at his creations. That’s because he strives to present only his best work to the community—and he’s got lots of ideas, like more complex designs, half-cakes, and more.
So, what is his favorite part of his job? Baking.
“When I was growing up, my grandmother was always baking,” he says. “She would always have my siblings and I help her bake cookies and cakes.”
Ingredients are locally sourced.
There’s just something special about eating a dish made from ingredients lovingly tended by your neighbors.
Bread from Rising Creek Bakery, microgreens from Olive Branch, meat from Village Butcher and Market, produce from Mal’s Fresh Produce, and coffee from Quantum Bean Coffee.
Put it all together and what do you get? A really awesome sandwich and the sweet fulfillment of supporting your community.
It’s good for your body and your soul.
Layman and chef Dailey McCarty take inspiration from a few sources, including social media and food trends like the vegetable of the year—it’s cabbage, if you were wondering, but wellness is at the heart of it all.
On top of those wholesome local ingredients, Layman aims to expand offerings of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free treats.
“A man whose wife has celiac disease came in, and he was looking for gluten-free options. I said, ‘Unfortunately, I don’t have a whole lot right now, but I do have these macarons,’” says Layman. “He ended up purchasing all of the macarons to take home for his wife.”
Stop by the Wiles Hill Community Center and check out the pastry cases, weekly specials, and grab-and-go options for yourself Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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