Guffey’s Cafe is not your ordinary cafe. Located in the town square of Albany for the last 60 years, its owners, Ken and Ina-Jean Guffey, provide a homey atmosphere with pictures of lakes or mountains on the wall or religious symbols which remind others to stay right with the Lord.
“It’s an average-sized crowd. Sometimes you can’t get a seat in here,” said William F. Warmner, 74, who has lived in Albany all of his life.
The cafe opens at4 a.m. and closes by 7 or 8 p.m. Locals come in about three times a day to swap stories or trade knives. If you don’t feel like talking or knife swapping then you can settle back for a cup of coffee or play country tunes, which constantly fill the air of the cafe.
John Groce, 68, who used to work in the stockyards, considers the cafe a second home.
“The age group is not a factor between the young and old. You converse with people younger and exchange gossip or ideas. I’ve seen people coming in this place grow up from this cafe.”