Whether she’s grilling up the fan-favorite buffalo chicken panini, brewing cereal milk lattes, leading the team of employees behind the counter, cueing the next song to uplift students after class, or filming TikToks, Sophie Gianaris is the heart of the Collins Farms operation. As the founder and owner of Collins Farms, Gianaris works long hours perfecting each stylistic and culinary element of the on-campus cafe, all while interacting with students and crafting an ideal hangout spot. 

Collins Farms, a breakfast and lunch cafe, was founded in 2021 by Gianaris and her mother in their hometown of Edwardsville, Illinois, 18 miles east of St. Louis. Gianaris sought to elevate the local dining scene by incorporating an aesthetic touch into all elements of the restaurant, with a focus on playful patterns, fun designs, and bright colors. 

“We travel a lot, so we always appreciate going to places that have cute restaurants, cute drinks, and cute coffees. It’s not just about the food; it’s about the entire experience,” Gianaris said. 

Gianaris created Collins Farms from a blank slate. Despite her lack of experience as a restaurateur, Gianaris’ passion as a small business owner and her desire to bring a sense of flair to the restaurant scene inspired her to establish the popular lunch spot. 

“I had no idea how to run a business or even cook. If you have a dream and you don’t really have experience doing it, you definitely can [do it] because I’m here doing it,” Gianaris said.

Hoping to elevate the chic cafe, Gianaris applied to a St. Louis-based outreach program looking for local vendors to partner with the WashU retail dining program. In 2023, Gianaris and her mom officially moved Collins Farms to Anheuser-Busch Hall. Its popularity skyrocketed immediately, and the cafe began receiving hundreds of orders from students daily. This past summer, Collins Farms relocated to the Schnuck Pavilion to meet its growing demand. 

“Collins Farms was expanding so fast that we needed a space that had a lot more seating and allowed me to use my creativity to expand the restaurant,” Gianaris said. 

The heart of any good restaurant is grounded in its recipes. Gianaris curates the menu by making seasonal changes that keep it relatable to current culinary trends and the needs of the student body. 

“It’s all in my head. I’ll see things that inspire me like other restaurants, and then I’ll be like, ‘Oh, that’s good..’ [I like to look at] a lot of TikToks and tons of Pinterest. Tons of random stuff that just pops in my head that I think sounds good,” Gianaris said. 

Aside from the tasty eats Collins Farms delivers to students during prime lunch hours, the cafe is also known for its decorative elements. Behind the shades of pink, flowery and farm-inspired wallpaper, customized cups, and other Instagram-worthy decor is Gianaris’ love for aesthetics and art. 

“I work with a girl that I found two years ago. I wanted somebody that was an actual artist. I give her the vision. It takes like two weeks to go back and forth, and then she draws it all up and then blows the design up. She drew the hills and all the stuff on the back wall. She draws all the T-shirts [and] pretty much everything,” Gianaris said. 

The experience of hand-drawn decor and creative menu items is not just limited to the students that visit Collins Farms. Through TikTok, Gianaris has created a platform that highlights her experience as a small-business owner and showcases the restaurant to the greater public. Giannais’s most popular video, which has garnered over 20,000 views, shows a day in the life of running the cafe. 

“I obviously love TikTok. I found myself scrolling all the time watching other people and business owners. I wanted people to see how hard [running a business] actually is and how hard people work,” Gianaris said.

Nonetheless, the best part of Gianaris’ TikTok platform is that it gives students a familiar face to recognize on campus.

“I love content creation, and I love keeping up with the trends and relating to students. I think it’s a great way to connect with the student body. I talk through TikTok or become friends with people through TikTok. This way, the restaurant stays young and intertwined with all the students, from freshmen to seniors,” Gianaris said. 

Gianaris’s double passion in content creation and small-business ownership parallels the character of the student body. At a school where students pursue multiple majors in hopes of connecting them through career aspirations, Gianaris serves as an example of the ability to bridge ambitions.  

“You don’t have to just focus on one or the other. There’s time for both. I obviously love marketing and being creative. It’s kind of like my most favorite thing about owning a restaurant,” Gianaris said. 

As Collins Farms continues to grow both its physical and online presence, Gianaris hopes the student body will remain inspired by the cafe’s roots. Every success story has to start from somewhere. 

“You should chase your dreams because it can happen. I never thought we’d have the amount of customers we have now, or I’d have the relationships with my staff or the students that I meet. We call it the Collins family. I just try to make it the most fun work environment.”

From the coffee machines behind the counter at Collins Farms to the TikTok feeds of WashU students, Gianaris has cemented her restaurant as one of the most popular dining options on campus. Gianaris’s creativity and hard work shine through every detail. Next time you see Gianaris on campus or online, remember that exploring your passions and taking risks might just be the best decision you ever make. And obviously, don’t forget to say hi.