During the '50s and '60s, a number of churches across the country started coffee houses as an attempt at making contact with a segment of the community with whom they otherwise had no contact. Coffee houses took many forms. Some were political, some artistic, some activistic, some musical, some even religious. Together with other Village groups, the high school group of the First Congregational Church of Downers Grove wanted to do something to address this concern, especially for teens in the community.

Funds were raised by the church youth group, largely from concerts and recording sales by the "Joyful Noise," a youth ministry of dancers, instrumentalists, and a chorus started at the First Congregational Church with participants from several other denominations. The coffee house opened for business on November 10, 1970.
Communication was the main purpose of the Two Way Street. The name was chosen to imply communications among people, generations, performers, staff, patrons-everyone. The goal was to offer a "neutral ground" where an honest exchange of ideas and emotions could take place. The watchword was mutual respect.

Music was an important part of the programming from the start. Most early performers were students, but there were a few performers from the coffee house scene in Chicago. Many went on to wider venues, but noted folk musicians such as Muriel Anderson, Lee Murdock, and Mark Dvorak got a helping hand from the Two Way Street in the later '70s and early '80s. Others were early performers who still love to return today.

The Two Way Street has always been involved in the community. The staff helped with a series of concerts in the mid '70s. In 1984, the Village of Downers Grove asked the Two Way Street to create a Folk Music Festival for the Downers Grove Heritage Festival. It's grown from the original three hours on Saturday to include a concert on Friday night followed by several hours of folk music on Saturday.

On November 16, 1990, the Two Way Street celebrated 20 years of people and music with 50 acts and 700 people in one night. It was a night full of music. Besides the Main Stage, there were several other rooms in the church filled with people jamming and song swapping. The night was also a tribute to the volunteers who kept the coffee house going through thick and thin years. Marking anniversaries continued on a special night on November 11, 1995, with "25 Years of Sharing."

Where music has been a major part of the coffee house, the real priority has been people. That extends to the performers. Eighty percent of the performers are chosen from the local area to support those who face a shortage of good listening rooms. The coffee house books performers to create a reciprocal arrangement so local performers can find open venues when they tour the country. The Two Way Street has achieved a national reputation.

Today, the Two Way Street continues as a place for making new friends, enjoying old friends, and listening to live folk music. The staff hopes that the coffee house is fulfilling the original mission of providing an atmosphere in the community in which all people can communicate.