Cheney resident hopes to duplicate success seen in similar Deer Park location
The crew that is both working to remodel the former Gattos Pizza, and work at what will now be known as The Marketplace Bakery and Deli includes (L-R): Ryan Musgrave, Marlene Hale, Holly Ann Musgrave, Chris Beezer, Lori Musgrave and Scott Knapp.
The "For Sale" signs that once stood outside the former Gatto's Pizza are gone.
Inside, crews are busily getting the building ready for its new life in an ambitious project being undertaken by Cheney resident Lori Musgrave.
By the third week in September and the home-opening football game for Eastern Washington University against Montana State, Musgrave hopes the doors on her Marketplace Bakery and Deli will swing open to welcome residents and visitors alike.
The Cheney enterprise will compliment a similar venture the Musgrave family runs in Deer Park. Only this one will be much bigger, at 6,000 square feet, four times the size of their existing farmer's market and bakery in north Spokane County.
The Musgraves, including husband Kelly and children Holly, Ryan and TJ, have lived in Cheney for about 15 years. By now they had planned to live in Deer Park, but Kelly's health issues changed that.
"When we created that five years ago we planned to move to Deer Park," Musgrave said. "I wanted to establish a business up there, I had this idea of almost like an indoor farmer's market."
Musgrave came to realize a couple of years ago the move to Deer Park was not going to happen so she began to concentrate on trying to duplicate the success of the venture in Cheney. "I think Cheney has grown enough that maybe my business model might work," Musgrave said.
Musgrave said she began the search for a building about a year ago. After initially hesitating when the Gatto's property became available, Musgrave decided it was, in the end, the right location.
"We're going to create what I have in Deer Park, but on a bigger, grander scale," Musgrave said.
The new business will feature a lot of everything under one roof, including a bakery, deli, lunch and breakfast place, coffee shop and an indoor farmer's market of sorts. Musgrave declined to provide the cost of the remodeling project.
"You have to be versatile," Musgrave said. She hopes that with the opportunity to visit a deli, have lunch or a cup of coffee - and patronize some of the vendors too -her business will have plenty of customers. Musgrave also touted her gluten free and vegan products, and that one of her bakers will specialize in the gluten-free goods.
"What's nice is a lot of small local businesses will get to be a part of this," she said. Especially when the outdoor famers' market closes for the season.
"We have this gentleman who does chips and salsa," Musgrave explained. "People just flock to him; he's thrilled, he get's to have a shelf (at The Marketplace) and space where he can sell all year round."
Another popular vendor Musgrave singled out is Jeanne Wolen, who sells soap made of goat milk. "She can't sell during the winter, she loses all of her income," Musgrave said. But Wolen is just one of many vendors who will have space inside to sell all year.
The former meeting room will remain, Musgrave said, and be called the Alumni Room. A local artist will paint a mural in the room with an Eastern Washington University theme.
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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