By Quinton Prudhomme
News Editor

Is the Cougar Cafe’s refrigerator running, or making a run for it?

Jewel Hospitality, a private catering business that works out of the Cougar Cafe, will not be renewing their contract with the college, which ends June 30, 2026.

One of the retiring owners of Jewel Hospitality, Michelle Sarber, said running the cafe has become less profitable and she has decided to retire.

MIchelle Sarber works in the back of the Cougar Cafe. Photos by Quinton Prudhomme

“Covid played a huge role, in that people just aren’t on campus and they’ve found a new source of learning and that’s online,” said Sarber. “So Covid played a part, and we all know it, costs have gone up,”

Sarber and her partner and co-owner Lisa Quin, have operated at Clackamas Community College for 10 years, according to Sarber.

“I just loved everything about it. Getting to meet people and staying busy. I just loved everything about it,” said Sarber

The college subsidises Jewel Hospitality $65,000 in quarterly installments, which began in July of 2023, according to the contract between Jewel Hospitality and Clackamas Community College. 

Michelle Sarber pours espresso shots at the Cougar Cafe.

As of right now the college has not confirmed plans for a replacement for food on campus, but service is already changing. The cafe has already reduced its staff and menu; burgers are no longer available as of winter term.

Catering businesses are requesting more than the college is comfortable paying, according to Clackamas Community College President Tim Cook.

“It’s a request to see if a potential nonprofit or a caterer or somebody could come in. The example I’ll use is like a Meals on Wheels,” said Cook. “If we allowed an organization that was doing work like Meals on Wheels like preparing meals, sending them out to the community and they could also provide our food.”

Cook also assured there would always be food options on campus.

“There will be food on campus, we got to figure something out,” said Cook.

Cook claimed that other colleges are paying more for food on campus.

“That’s the question, do we have to come to the consensus where we’ve got to pay something that makes me uncomfortable,” said Cook.