Twelve years ago, the former Northern Pacific Railroad depot in Cheney was declared “surplus” by its then-owner, BNSF Railway. What might have seemed like a benign clerical move was actually a precursor to demolition of the historic building, which had been constructed in 1929 in a regionally unique mission-style design with curved roof tiles and hints of art deco.
Though it had sold its last fare in 1971, the depot still held fond memories of arrivals and departures for many Cheney residents. Thus the nonprofit Cheney Depot Society was created to save the depot from destruction. The yearslong campaign eventually led to moving the entire structure off BNSF-owned land to a new location alongside WA-904 between I and Union streets.
Last Friday, the depot began its second life. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the West Plains Chamber of Commerce, Eastern Coffee Roasters officially opened its first brick-and-mortar coffeehouse in the former train station, where the interior has been thoughtfully redesigned by the Spokane-based firm Terry L. Mourning & Associates. Small round dining tables, a private conference room, a kitchen prep area, a modern enclosed fireplace and a bespoke roasting setup now occupy a space that once housed ticket counters and waiting rooms…