On Call Cafe, Stanford’s late-night student-run coffee shop, saw its last night of the academic year last Thursday. Senior staff members bid farewell to the cafe while students poured in to sip their last drink of the quarter. 

On Call began with a series of pop-ups in 2023 and now permanently resides in Old Union. The cafe is completely operated by students, with baristas and “toastmasters” — who prepare toasts and manage the register — ranging from first-year students to seniors. 

Seniors on the team reminisced about the fun and fulfillment that came with their time at On Call as they wrapped up their final night.

Lucy Duckworth ’25 initially joined the cafe to help design the logo and ended up staying on as a barista. “It’s been one of the highlights of my Stanford experience and I will miss it so much,” Duckworth said. 

Anna Moller ’25 wrote to The Daily that she “was really lucky and grateful to be able to contribute to an organization that I hope has been a positive influence [on campus] and will continue to do so”.

Some graduating seniors also took a sofa from the Cafe to the Oval for their graduation photos. 

Sarah Rivas ‘28, who joined On Call as a barista to find a community on campus beyond academics, described it as “ a really good place to meet people outside of where I normally am.” 

The space not only offers late-night doses of caffeine but also a warm and cozy atmosphere for studying and time with friends. 

“I visit On Call every single night that it’s open,” said Eshaal Bashir ’27. “While I do my math homework every Tuesday night, it’s like I’m sitting on the floor of my room.”

On Call introduced a punch card earlier in the year, with 10 punches earning customers a free drink. Bashir considers herself to be one of On Call’s most loyal customers, having filled out three punch cards this year.

“At first it was a silly little thing but then I got super invested,” Bashir said. “Getting a punch on my card is like doing drugs.”

On Call has also become a hub of culture and creativity, hosting line-dancing events and talks with faculty. Many student-run clubs also keep open tabs with the cafe.

Eddy Jiang ’28 and Minoo Jang ‘28 initially started coming to On Call because their volunteer organization, Treehouse, had a tab with the cafe. Over time, however, they began coming to On Call for its “vibe.” 

Students said they look forward to what On Call will have in store next year. 

Jiang expressed that he wished On Call would add more variety to their menu, while acknowledging the importance of  “quality over quantity.” Bashir said that she would love to see On Call Cafe introduce an open mic night, similar to those at the Stanford Coffee House (CoHo).

Yet, the students all expressed that On Call has become a special part of the student experience. 

“You’re not at Stanford if you haven’t been at On Call,” said Jang and Jiang in unison.