A century on 3rd Street
The same corner has poured coffee and served the people of Corvallis for over 100 years. Here's how an ice cream parlor became the breakfast cafe you love today.
It started with a dairy farm and a soda fountain. More than a hundred years later, the booths, the bar, and the building still carry that history — and we're proud to keep the griddle warm.
Sunny Brook Farm
Roger Q. Mills founded Sunny Brook Farm near Monroe — the dairy roots that would eventually flow into a little parlor in downtown Corvallis.
A parlor on 3rd Street
The building, constructed in 1920, became a restaurant in the late summer of 1923 when Mr. Mills and his wife Bertha relocated their operation here — a small bar for six, two round tables, and wire-backed chairs in a cozy ice cream parlor setting.
A Frigidaire soda fountain
A Frigidaire soda fountain arrived alongside an L-shaped maple counter seating about eight, with three booths set by the window. By around 1935, another long section of maple bar was installed, forming a welcoming "U."
Black-and-white & hot meals
Mrs. Mills-Smith redesigned the space with three small U-bars and striking black-and-white décor. The kitchen expanded to serve hot meals, complete with a steam table.
Burton's Sunny Brook Restaurant
The dairy relocated to North Ninth Street in 1950. In 1968, Bob and Dawn Burton took ownership and expanded operations into Burton's Sunny Brook Restaurant. A 1969 renovation removed the old dairy loading dock and opened up parking-lot access.
The Broken Yolk Cafe
After Burton's closed in January 2006, Brooke and Brandon Dale acquired the property that March, envisioning their dream restaurant. Following a full year of renovations — floors, walls, ceilings, electrical, plumbing, and more — The Broken Yolk Cafe opened in March 2007.
WiseCracks Cafe
After 13 years, the owners refreshed the furniture and rebranded as WiseCracks Cafe — new logos, new tables, and new booths — while keeping the heart of the place intact.
The next 40 years
Having weathered the pandemic years, WiseCracks Cafe is feeling stronger than ever — honoring a century of history while serving up something fresh for the young-at-heart. Here's to another 40 years on 3rd Street.
Honoring the location's history to welcome longtime patrons — while creating a new and exciting atmosphere for the young-at-heart.
Come make a little history of your own
Grab a booth at the cafe that's been feeding Corvallis for a hundred years.