When Jan Domin first started working at Colonial Cafe in 1974, everything was different.

“Things have changed quite a bit,” Domin said. “We no longer write out tickets by hand. Everything is on the computer. We went from basically a sandwich shop to a  place where you can get breakfast and desserts. We went from all the women wearing dresses to now everybody wearing slacks, and that was a change.”

The St. Charles resident started 35 years ago at the Geneva Colonial Cafe, which was located where Mel’s Diner now stands. The company recently celebrated Domin’s years of service.
Domin started off washing dishes, moved to cooking, then served as assistant manager, before switching to work at the restaurant’s headquarters in St. Charles as a receptionist and marketing assistant in the 1970s.

“When I first came into the office, my insides were just racing,” Domin said. “I was used to running so fast, and then to sit at a desk. It took a little bit of getting used to.”

Domin now works as the office manager at the headquarters and said she’s glad she made the move from service to administrative.

“I guess I’ve always enjoyed coming to work, so that made me stay,” Domin said. “I think it’s probably the atmosphere. It’s close to home. That works well for me.”

Notable
For her 35 years with the company, Domin and her husband Bill were treated with a weekend at a fancy hotel in Chicago, a meal at Morton’s Steak House, and money for a shopping spree.

& quotable
“One time when I was in Hawaii on vacation, I was walking into a hotel and heard ‘Oh my gosh, there’s a Colonial lady,’” Domin said. “It was just interesting. It made me think, ‘Watch out what you do because you never know who sees you.’”

Philosophy
“I think to keep your high standards,” Domin said. “Just in general, we’re in a service-oriented business. You have to please the customers.”

Favorites
Ice cream Vanilla
Food Chicken noodle soup
Music “Soft, easy music”
Other interests Knitting, crocheting