Squeaking on

Vegetarian eatery celebrates four years of goodness

by Lorien Bourne

published May 24th 2006

Despite Northwest Ohio’s love of festivals involving ribs and wings, four years after opening, Squeaker’s Café remains a safe haven for vegetarians.

Squeaker’s Vegetarian Café and Health Food Store, located at 175 N. Main Street has been a fixture in Bowling Green for a little more than four years.

Heather Andre, one of the two owners, was inspired to open Squeaker’s after downtown Bowling Green had been renovated and the college town was simply looking more attractive. Well, that and the fact that there wasn’t another vegetarian restaurant or health food store in Bowling Green.

"Squeaker’s is named after my guinea pig, who is a true vegetarian," Andre said.

According to Andre, who ran an arts-n-crafts store before opening Squeaker’s with her business partner Jay Kershner, everything at Squeaker’s is organic and everything served in the café’ is vegan-friendly.

"Being able to save animals lives on a day-to-day basis by serving animal-free meals and groceries [is Squeaker’s mission]," Andre’ said, "We are not going to get rich by what we are doing, but that’s not the point."

Aside from carrying a full line of vegetarian and vegan groceries and fresh organic produce, Squeakers also carries cruelty-free health and beauty items, vitamins, herbs, food supplements and eco-friendly cleaning supplies.

With four successful years behind her, Andre’ intends to expand her business by moving into catering, creating a new menu, a vegan bakery and exploring the possibility of a second location.

Squeaker’s food and product selection has even gained favor with carnivores. Kim Keller is a meat-eater and has been going to Squeakers since it opened.

"I try to eat a lot of organic and natural foods and they have a nice selection," Keller said.

Keller likes that Squeakers carries all the items that are on the menu in their grocery store. If you like something on the menu, you can buy the item and make it at home.

Matt Mauk is a regular, and celebrated last Thanksgiving with his first "Tofurky," a vegan-friendly turkey made of tofu.

Mauk said that Squeaker’s offers more than just good vegetarian food. They have literature to keep people informed about a healthier lifestyle and bulletin boards to keep customers updated on what’s happening in the community.

"Squeaker’s has more under the surface than what you expect when you first go in.”