News & Events – Full Story – Hamilton College News
Co-managers Larry Bender and Sarah Goldstein remember traveling into town for ice every morning and keeping extra supplies in their car during the first days of Café Opus. Some 26 years later, the much-beloved coffeehouse has grown — its original location below McEwen Dining Hall expanded and Opus 2 snug within the Taylor Science Center atrium since 2005 — and the café has developed a cult following among students, alumni, faculty, and staff.
That’s why the end of the 2020-21 academic year also marked the end of an era with Bender and Goldstein retiring. A new vendor will soon be named to take over operation of the two coffeehouses, continuing the tradition begun by its co-founders in time for the start of the fall semester.
Say congratulations and thanks or share your favorite Café Opus memory with us. We’d love to see your Opus photo, too!
For Bender and Goldstein, creating a legacy that would live on for future generations wasn’t always a given. Café Opus’ co-founders were not confident in the venture’s success when they opened for business in 1995. “Coffee hadn’t really hit the area; the whole idea of a social space based around coffee or whatever, really it didn’t exist at Hamilton at the time. This was a trial [when we] started out,” said Bender, who originally predicted the venture might last five years.
Explaining the duo’s inspiration for the café’s coffee, food, and culture, Goldstein said, “I think that Larry and I saw something Hamilton needed before Hamilton knew it needed it, and we brought it. And we stuck with it, and I feel proud of that.”
The co-founders attribute Opus’ longstanding success to student support. Bender said that “the enthusiasm, the warmth, the stimulation that the students brought to the space” motivated and enabled him and Sarah to continually breathe life, passion, and fresh chocolate chip cookies into the café.
It’s a home away from home, and we’ve developed a family attitude, a family atmosphere, that a lot of them find this as a safe space.
And for the students and alumni who regularly met with friends over brunch, enjoyed a mango brie panini (created by Hilary King ’05) every chance they could, and bought a coffee the night before a test, it was Opus that made some of their most important Hamilton experiences possible.
Epitomized by Opus 1’s comfy, well-worn, eclectic chairs, Bender and Goldstein always strived to make Café Opus feel like a world away from the stressful, busy day-to-day of college life. “I think students love Opus because it’s comfortable, and I think that comfortable is what we were going for. Like, your home. Your home away from home,” Goldstein said.
Bender agreed. “It’s a home away from home, and we’ve developed a family attitude, a family atmosphere, that a lot of them find this as a safe space.”
With little fanfare — but tons of warm beverages and mango-brie paninis always served with a smile — the eclectic coffeehouse celebrated two decades on the Hill.
Upon gearing up for their retirement, Opus’ managers said they would most miss the students. Bender cited as highlights of his career “the constant evolution that’s gone through from 26 years ago to now, the music that they play, the conversations that we have. … They kept us young.”
Bender and Goldstein said they’d like to thank all who supported them, particularly Nancy Soule, who ran Opus for 13 of its years, former Hamilton President Gene Tobin, Irene Brogan-Leone, and again, the students.
As for what’s next, they are still figuring that out. “It’s our summer,” Goldstein said, looking ahead to an open, calm next few years. Whatever the future has in store, both are content with their decades of memories and the lingering smell of freshly brewed coffee.
Café Opus Memories
Say congratulations and thanks or share your favorite Café Opus memory with us. We’d love to see your Opus photo, too!
The countless hours I spent in Opus with friends, especially during various choir events, are some of my most cherished college memories. It was like having a cozy living room at our fingertips, with the most incredible chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had.
— Fiona (MacQuarrie) Helmuth ’09
Larry & Sarah! Omg, I miss you both and our Opus family… To this day, I often think about my former shifts with you and recall how much joy they brought to me amidst some hectic days on campus. Thank you SO much for the laughs, the life advice, the cookies, and alllllll those opus magnums lol… xx Ali Gay
— Ali Gay ’17
Larry and Sarah, Puru here. You guys made Hamilton the best experience possible. My first and best employers without a doubt. Best of luck with retirement and hope our paths cross someday soon. All my love to you both. <3
— Purujith Gautam ’16
CONGRATULATIONS, SARAH AND LARRY! You are responsible for many of my fondest memories and closest friendships at Hamilton. Thanks for being such great mentors and friends, and for creating such a nurturing community for us Dark Siders, Outsiders, and Artistic Types. With Love, Rory Pavach ’10 (plus her seven-year spouse, Opus regular Andrew Peart ’10)
— Rory Pavach ’10
You two deserve a break!! Thanks for the memories!
— Nitsa Weld
Thanking you for the food and memories our daughter has enjoyed at Opus. We have heard many many accolades and know Opus will be missed.
— Jeffrey and Joyce Holbrook
Some of my fondest memories of Hamilton are from Café Opus. Your food and spirit will always be part of the college. Thank you so much!