Cheney eatery to begin selling beer and wine

By DAVID TELLER

Staff Reporter

Cheney Delights is looking to expand their menu with items that have a little kick.

Delights owner, Fred Pollard said he is transitioning to a more traditional restaurant. He said building his business is a slow, evolutionary process of just trying to discover what people want or need in Cheney.

“We made a conscientious decision to come in and try to find a way to have our business fit into the community,” Pollard said.

Though his business has done well, he said it's time to expand.

“Ice cream is good but it's seasonal at best,” he said.

The drinks are a continuation of building the restaurant. An example Pollard used was Denny's. He said when people go there to eat they can have a glass of beer or wine with their dinner while the whole family is at the same table.

Pollard said the decision to begin serving drinks came after numerous suggestions. He said people requested beer for lunch to go along with their barbecue sandwich. He said there have also been requests for wine.

Despite the fact that minors may work at Cheney Delights, they will not handle any alcoholic drinks. Pollard said because his restaurant is not a bar he needs to have an 18-year-old with state approved training serve the drinks. He said he is going to have his employees prompt customers for identification more rigorously too.

Cheney Delights will offer Budweiser. Pollard said there were a lot of requests for Bud Light too. He said he is also looking for “a good hops – based Oktoberfest-type” of beer. He said he would like to also get microbrews. Beer at Cheney Delights would be both bottled and draft.

Pollard said he doesn't anticipate the alcoholic drinks to create unruly customers. He said last year when he was open late, many customer came in already intoxicated and had very few problems. To resolve a combative drunk problem he said he socializes them by offering something to eat.

“I try to be customer oriented,” Pollard said. “I've never had to physically throw somebody out.”

He added that most of the young people that drink in Cheney are pretty well mannered.

Once Pollard's application is approved, he said he plans to serve beer and wine “from lunch until we close.” He added that closing time would likely be 8 p.m., but he may extend it depending on what the community wants.

Beer and wine will be available at Cheney Delights after the Washington State Liquor Control Board approves Pollard's request to serve alcohol and after he took a break.

Pollard and his wife Gail took a sabbatical during the holidays. He said they were exhausted after a year and a half straight of six and seven day work weeks with no break. Pollard said the weather forecast showed the possibility of a slowdown.

“We just thought we'd take advantage of the holidays and spend time with the family,” he said.

Pollard said he originally planned Dec. 20 to be the last day before his break, but the weather changed his plans. He said all employees are coming back to work; no one lost their position due to the Pollards' break.

“We're still going to be a kid friendly, family-oriented place,” Pollard said.

David Teller can be reached at [email protected]