Pioneering her own path: A St. Mike’s alum’s journey to entrepreneurship
When Lindsay Taylor Matecat ’14 first started working in restaurants in the Winooski Circle while in college to cover groceries and rent payments, she never could have imagined it would turn into her opening her own local cafe.
Now, a little more than a decade later, Matecat has created her own community-oriented restaurant located only a few miles away from the Saint Michael’s College campus.
The Pioneer Cafe, now its own brick-and-mortar restaurant, started as a food truck in 2018 when Matecat and her husband, a seasoned chef, purchased a used truck from a friend and began their business. Matecat said that the idea for the name came from her husband as a way of referencing their journey of “pioneering their own way.”

Lindsay Taylor Matecat ’14, founder of The Pioneer Cafe in Colchester. (Photo by Cassie Lathrope ’26)
Pioneering the cafe
The two began their business primarily at what was formerly known as “Truck Stop” at ArtsRiot, serving bright plates of food to customers while planning for the truck to turn into something bigger.
“So, long story short, we got the food truck knowing that we wanted to end up in a brick and mortar,” Matecat said.
Matecat and her husband made the bold decision to open their Colchester cafe in 2021 during the global COVID-19 pandemic, facing challenging safety and social distancing regulations.
“Something, we kept reminding ourselves was, we can get through this, like if we can open a restaurant in the pandemic, things gotta, gotta get easier,” Matecat said. While the challenges lasted longer than Matecat expected, she understood that the regulations they would need to follow were only temporary.

The Pioneer Cafe in Colchester began as a food truck before its current brick-and-mortar location in Colchester opened. The restaurant is owned by Saint Michael’s alumna Lindsay Taylor Matecat ’14 and her husband. (Photo by Cassie Lathrope ’26)
Community connection
Pioneer Café stands out not only for its globally inspired food made with locally sourced ingredients but also for the sense of warmth and comfort it provides its guests. The cafe serves a variety of options for all, from “The Big Pac” – a burger made from alpaca meat – to their “Seasonal Vegetable Pita” for those looking for a meat-free choice.
“The alpaca we use is from Central Vermont, the maple we use is from right at Colchester,” Matecat said. “We’re a small business ourselves. So we feel very passionately about supporting these other small businesses, too. If we’re all succeeding together, it makes it more fun for everyone.”
Building on her St. Mike’s background, Matecat has created a community among employees, suppliers, and customers, stating that many of her employees will notice when a regular customer does not visit. This concept of community extends behind the scenes of the restaurant with a pooled tip system that includes both front- and back-of-the-house workers. This small but meaningful step has created a commitment among her employees to hard work and dedication.
“This is a place that is about good food, but also good company,” Matecat said. “We don’t talk politics here. We don’t talk about religion. “I think that is a huge thing, and is something I feel very passionately about in this crazy time. We all need a place to feel like we belong.”

The Pioneer Cafe sells merchandise designed by St. Mike’s alumna and restaurant co-owner Lindsay Taylor Matecat ’14, putting her Art & Design degree to good use. (Photo by Cassie Lathrope ’26)
The St. Mike’s impact
Matecat graduated from St. Mike’s with degrees in both Art & Design and Psychology. She credits many of her approaches to business and management to her four years at St. Mike’s. While a student, Matecat was involved in many different areas, including as a Resident Assistant and participating in the Photo Club.
“It’s like a manager, you know, when you’re an RA,” Matecat said of her job in the residence halls. “I really leaned into that.”
Matecat said she has also been able to use her various art and design skills by creating branding, menus, and even merchandise for the cafe.
Matecat said one of the professors who left a lasting impression was Art & Design Professor Brian Collier. She said that Collier always pushed her harder than other students, eventually realizing it was because he saw something special in her. His influence and mentorship have continued to impact her in her daily life at Pioneer Cafe.

A milkshake at The Pioneer Cafe in Colchester, established by alumna Lindsay Taylor Matecat ’14 and her husband. (Photo by Cassie Lathrope ’26)
Advice and looking forward
Matecat’s biggest advice for current Purple Knights looking to follow a similar path centers around perseverance, a skill she has refined as a result of opening a cafe during a global pandemic. She also emphasized the importance of understanding market research and perfecting your brand.
“Starting a business is about solving a problem,” Matecat said. “Finding your niches and finding things that you can excel at, because if you try to do everything, you’re going to drown. And if you don’t have enough options, you’re not going to have enough customers.”
As for the future, Matecat plans on finding ways to fine-tune the cafe while continuing to foster the community feel she and her husband have created. She mentioned hopes of one day adding an outdoor patio to the cafe, joking it would be a “pipe dream of hers.”
“I feel like doing this has really, like, given me a lot of confidence, and I can be proud of what we build,” Matecat said.