by Marisa Pesa
On any given night, One Main Café is sure to be busy. On any given night, Kim Houf, cashier at said establishment, is bound to be wearing earrings.
However, this friendly woman does not just continuously wear any old pair. Owning roughly 300 pairs of earrings, Houf makes it a point to wear the most unique, eye catching ear adornments while taking orders.
“It’s a challenge for me to keep finding unique conversation pieces,” Houf said.
Originally from southern Iowa, Houf currently lives in Westerville, OH with her husband Jim. Houf has been working at Capital for a total of seven years; she says she actually landed the job through her son. As a Capital student, he worked for Parkhurst Catering and the Crew Club (One Main Café’s identity prior to the establishment’s $1.6 million renovation).
Her collection really picked up when she began working at Capital because the kids starting calling out the odd earrings.
Houf was 12 years old when she first got her ears pierced; however, she did not cry as pre-teens are prone to do. Her mom insisted that she go to the family doctor’s to get it done because they had professional and sterile equipment. Back in the day, many people pierced their own ears using a potato and needle.
Some may be curious as to if her collection includes an industrial bar or gages, or if Houf has ever opted for a second-hole piercing. Houf said no to all other body modifications. She shared that she has not gotten around to getting another piercing because she immediately thinks about the pain that comes with putting additional holes in your body.
The majority of her earrings have been purchased at Claire’s; however, on her recent cruise to the Bahamas, 15 pairs were added to the collection.
“I have enough holiday earrings to wear a different pair every day for December and October,” Houf said.
In addition to her earring collection, Houf also owns 15 watches she enjoys coordinating with her earrings.
One of her favorite pairs is modeled after the popular child’s toy Shape O Ball. The miniature ball mimics the toy ball her children once played with and now her 11-month “grandbaby” Arabell grabs hold of.
In addition to earrings gifted on birthdays and holidays, the $300 round diamond pair Jim gave to her as a wedding present when they eloped to Downtown Columbus holds special sentimental value.
“They’re my pride and joy,” Houf said.
Some of her more unusual pairs include dream catcher earrings—the first pair bought on an Indian Reservation in AZ to match with a dream catcher hanging above her car’s dashboard—and conch shell earrings, purchased on the aforementioned cruise.
“You can hear the ocean if you put them close enough to your ears,” Houf said with a chuckle.
Also be on the lookout out for her Troll pair, a crowd pleaser among students, she says.
And, ultimately, she wears a different pair almost every day because she wants to get a reaction from the kids. Apparently, Houf’s ears are the first thing that students focus on when ordering their meals.
“I have my job because I have my kids,” Houf said. “They make me stay young. I’m their college mom.”
Though she has plenty of favorite students, there are two who hold a special place in her heart: Adrien Tolentino and Matt Lowe. Tolentino was the first one to call Houf “Mama Kim.” Adam Stevens, Cam Findlay, and Chris Talbert, described as being her “last-minute-of-the-nighters,” also came to mind.
“I love Kim,” Steven said upon hearing this. “She’s like a Capital Mom.”
However, Houf makes it a point to try to learn at least one new name a week and pick up on regulars’ food orders. She even has some students’ numbers memorized.
Houf’s co-workers also appreciate her company and ever present kindness.
“Kim is the kindest lady on this campus, hands down,” Wil Kondrich, co-worker and sophomore, said. “She genuinely cares about the students here.”
mpesa@capital.edu
