From Trivia Nights to Art Displays, Local Coffee Shop Creates Space for Community

The Office, Harry Potter and the 1984 Summer Olympics do not appear to have much in common, but all three of these topics and more can be found at White Hart Café’s fan-favorite Trivia Night.

Every Tuesday at 7 p.m., Trivia Night is open to anyone interested, offering an intimate setting and a special prize for the winning team. White Hart hosts both general  trivia nights and popular culture themed trivia nights for avid fans. 

“My friends and I went to the Star Wars-themed Trivia Night, and it was so great,” junior pre-law student Rebekah Nasser said. “The place was jam-packed with people just hanging out and having a good time.” 

White Hart has been hosting Trivia Night events for several years, but this year, the café is prioritizing the event even more, seeking to give people an outlet for getting involved in the community, Assistant Manager Jeremy Angione said. A full schedule has been set in place, locking in every Tuesday night for the rest of 2021. 

Another event being held in the space is the White Hart Creator Series – a unique opportunity for Lynchburg artists to showcase their work. Starting Sept. 25 and recurring on the last Saturday of every month, three tables will be set up for three local creators to display their art, Angione said.

“We want people to put their artwork in a space that is going to get a lot of eyes,” he said. “Saturdays are very busy for us, so we’d love for our artists to be seen and heard.” 

Students and any local artist interested are encouraged to reach out via social media — the café can be found on Instagram at @whitehartcafelyh — to have their work featured.  

White Hart also holds a weekly Open Mic on Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m. for anyone looking to share a talent, poetry or enjoy a night of entertainment. 

One of the pillars of White Hart Café is cultivating a great culture for all who stop by. 

“Our biggest focus is creating a comfortable environment for our guests that come in,” Angione said. 

That environment is tangible for its customers.

“I think the environment alone can make or break an experience, and every time I’ve walked into White Hart, everyone always has a smile on their face and are so welcoming,” Allyson Wride, a junior nursing student, said.

With the explosion of coffee-shop culture over the past several years, many stores have been looking to find a competitive edge. Many cafés strongly accentuate aesthetics while others search for new coffee preparation methods. White Hart has maintained a similar vision from the time they opened in downtown Lynchburg in 2007.

“I don’t think we’re necessarily looking to be trendsetters, but we’re looking to do whatever we do well,” Angione said.

White Hart has managed to stay relevant through the inclusion and execution of community-driven events, but its drive to make guests feel welcomed continues to set them apart. 

“No matter how many new places I try, whenever I step into White Hart, it just feels like coming home,” Nasser said. 

Quigg is a news reporter.