Familiar Face Emma Osckel

During lunchtime in Niwot, hungry high school students, residents, business people, and even Courier staff who are looking for a sandwich might head to the local Subway in Cottonwood Square. If they've done so over the last few years, they've likely been served by Emma Osckel, well known for her friendly, fun demeanor when taking orders and assembling sandwiches.

Osckel is a regional native who has lived in Northern Colorado since the late 1990s. She came to Longmont when her son started middle school and worked for a telecommunications company. After spending a dozen years in a cubicle, she decided to step away from a traditional working life.

She applied to the Niwot Subway location because she was looking for a job that fit her schedule and allowed her to take her grandchildren to school, since the same son she moved to the area with, now is a single father of twin boys. Osckel said, "My joy is to help usher my grandkids through this crazy world of ours."

A sandwich counter job fit her life well, and allowed her to connect to the Niwot community. "I've lived in the Longmont area for more than 24 years, but I had never been to Niwot before I worked here," she said. "I've been up and down the Diagonal lots, but never came into town. I knew it was going to be different because it's a place I've never been. It's a smaller town, smaller paced, and very friendly. Everybody's a neighbor."

She enjoys interacting with her customers, many of whom have made an impression as she's gotten to know them, anticipates their orders, and looks forward to the times when they stop by.

"I see the high school kids a lot," said Osckel."We get various groups come in and they're all very polite, very mature, and they're a mix of athletic and academic focused students." She also said she's become very friendly with other regulars, including Courier staff members and high school teachers. She chats with them about vacations, work and how their lives are going.

As much as Osckel gets to know her customers, her customers also get to know a bit about her. Over last summer, her 9-year-old grandson Charlie spent time at the shop and became friendly with the regular customers and with other merchants, including Belle Terre Floral. Osckel believes Charlie's time at the shop taught him some valuable skills. "I noticed that from the beginning of the summer to the end of the summer he could count money better. I would let him fill the change machine that's there, so he would learn about the different coins," she said.

Some of Osckel's favorite days at Subway are the times when community events impact Cottonwood Square. "Whenever there are the horse and wagon rides or another event, it's fun for me. It reminds me of why I love to be part of this community," Osckel said.