Opinions of Opening a Amish/Mennonite Cafe/Restaurant?

Fellow Foodies--

Just thought I would open this thread for our "informal poll" of what I posted under the thread Area Restaurants... called "What's Missing??...". Please read what I posted regarding the possibility of our "idea" of opening an Amish-style restaurant/cafe with a bulk foods section, deli, and other products.

My husband and I are interested in what "y'all" thought of this "idea" and if it would be an asset to Loudoun County? Of course, we know of numerous contacts in the food industry, Amish/Mennonite businesses (foods, etc.), and other resources to use for this type of business. After all, I do not wish to "give away all my trade secrets!" Right?

We are looking at the opening and closing hours from 5:00 or 6:00 am to 3:00 or 4:00 pm--Monday through Friday. Saturdays would be 8:00 or 9:00 am to 3:00 or 4:00 pm. Sundays--of course--we would be closed for our family and farm, etc. We would serve breakfast and lunch only, have canned goods, fresh produce, Amish cookbooks/gifts, Amish deli meats, Amish-style full-service butcher shop, cheeses, Fair-Traded coffees/teas, dairy, and perhaps a bakery.

Just curious of your opinion(s) of this "future venture". Of course, we know about "test markets" and the other things that go along with this type of business. Please respond if you think this would work.

Thanks and good eats??

Foodie

 

Fellow Foodies--

Hubby wanted to add that any other suggestions/needs for this "cafe" idea would also be appreciated. We would furnish fresh and local produce and other products--it would be a combination of "Country Market/General Store and Cafe".

Thanks again.

Foodie

 

Wow! Tell me when it opens and I'll be there!

I'm on my way to Ohio for a week and hoping to stop by Holmes County. Failing that, I'll hit the Amish market where my sister lives. Seriously, I think your idea has real potential, but I think that many people in this area have probably never been to an Amish/Mennonite restaurant and in that sense, they would need some help in defining exactly what that means.

I'll think some more on it. A dietician co-worker of my sister is Mennonite - her daughter graduated from Eastern Mennonite Univ. in fact. I'll pick her brain a little bit, too, when I see her.

 

Charlotte and others--

Thanks, Charlotte, for your interest in our "venture". Please ask your sister's co-worker (Mennonite) about her opinions and get back with me by a PM if possible.

Thanks again.

For those of you other Foodies--

Some friends of ours told us of this great Mennonite market. If you are in the Remington/Catlett areas--check it out. The web site is below--

www.thefarmerswifemarket.com (The Farmer's Wife Market web site/info.)

Foodie

 

Foodie, have you ever been to Yoder's Country Market in Grantsville, MD, just off I70? I stop there sometimes on my way to or from Ohio:

http://yodercountrymarket.com/search.htm

(Ignore the box on the lefthand side that says Kitty Hawk, NC; I think that's their supplier.)

 

Charlotte and others--

Yes, I have a few years ago. For those of you wishing for a cool trip for now or for Fall--visit Western MD where in Garrett County, MD there is an Amish/Mennonite population with great stores, quilts, Amish crafts, foods, and furniture.

Western MD Railroad is great also for a weekend trip.

Yoder's Markets had several stores at one time in the Mid-Atlantic region. The store in Kitty Hawk, NC was sold to an "English" (non-Amish) young couple who runs the store just like Yoder did for years before the couple retired. I think that the store in Grantsville, MD may have closed. I am not sure though.

Check out the following web sites--

www.yoderscountrymarket.net (Yoder's Country Market web site. They are located in Madison County, Pratts, VA area.)

www.pennalps.com (Penn Alps is a Mennonite restaurant with a community of local Amish/Mennonite crafts, etc.)

www.wmsr.com (Western MD Railroad's web site/info. Check out "Day With Thomas" for September 2007. We are going; and it is a great time!)

The Cumberland Valley in MD is great. Go down alternate HWY 40 MD and see a "mini" PA but in MD.

Need more info--just ask.

Foodie

 

Foodie -

The only flaw I see is the "not on Sunday thing." Many folks around here, so I observer, are specifically looking for an "On the way home from prayer" kind of thing.

But the open way early (0500) is a big plus (and where were you when I worked at The 'Gon???).

Fresh produce - I think we'd be there.

 

Kaosdad and others--

Yes, we realize it would be "unusual" to be closed on Sunday(s); but for our family Sunday is our family's day to rest (believe it or not--ha-ha!!). We might consider having someone (not Mennonite) operate the business on Sunday(s) also.

One thing I am considering is talking to Restaurant Nora about opening a restaurant concept/cafe here in Loudoun County. We shall see how that meeting goes in the future.

For those of you not familiar with Restaurant Nora, Nora's restaurant was the FIRST Organic Certified restaurant in the USA several years ago. She has an extensive knowledge and an enormous following in the "Restaurant World" with other "Foodies". She purchases alot of her "wares of food" from the Lancaster County, PA areas and has contacts with Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative in PA. I also have contacts with Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative who furnishes restaurants, cafes, markets, and the like with a great organic selection of produce that is grown by Amish/Mennonite farmers as well as other farmers in the PA region.

We have dined at Restaurant Nora's in DC and loved it. Highly recommend the restaurants that Nora owns.

Web sites are below if interested--

www.noras.com (Nora Pouillon's web site/info on restaurants.)

www.tog.coop (Tuscarora's Cooperative's web site and info.)

 

foodie,

I would be a glad patron!

 

Gryphon and others--

Keep the ideas and "informal poll" coming "y'all"--

Thanks ahead of time--we would be happy to serve you if we can make this "idea" work out. Time will tell--

Have a good night--

Foodie

 

Love it! Whereabouts are you looking to locate? I don't know if you've considered this or if it's too early, but I would love have an option to buy online. At least dry goods and non-perishables. I'm not very good about getting up early, especially on weekends and most of the time I'm thinking about buying something is while I'm at work...

 

izzysmom and others--

Yes, I can currently provide you FREE information on how to purchase dry goods and non-perishables if you wish. For dry goods--baking needs, candies, etc.--check the following web site(s)--

www.dutchvalleyfoods.com (Dutch Valley Foods is a great supplier--I, of course, know of others--but for home usage--use Dutch Valley Foods.)

Just PM me your "want list"; and I will see what I can do.

As far as "location, location, location..."--we are "scouting" several sites along Routes 7 (West toward Ashburn/Leesburg areas) and Route 28 toward Fairfax/Loudoun County lines. Also, considering "strip malls". We will see how it "shakes out".

Thanks for your interest.


Foodie

 

It sounds like a great idea, but I don't want to compete with you when I open my tea store/cafe! ;-)

 

technosapien--

I do not think you can compete (ha-ha!! ). Did you try my donut recipes yet? If you wish for more recipes (of any kind)--keep checking back under the thread/post "Recipe Roundup..." under "Area Restaurants...".

Seriously, if you want to know where to purchase "Fair-Traded Coffees/Teas"--just ask or PM me.

Have a good weekend--and yes, we are serious about this "cafe" idea--

Foodie

 

Foodies--

Thanks for responding to my "informal poll" about the possibility of opening an Amish/Mennonite-style Cafe and Bulk Foods store. Keep the comments (good or bad) coming. All will be appreciated.

Also, under the thread "Area Restaurants..." and my post "Recipe Roundup..." is just a "sample" of what we may be considering in some of our menu items.

We are still in the "very early phase" of planning the possibility of this Cafe idea. We shall see--

Thanks--

Foodie

 

Fellow Foodies--

Update on our planned Mennonite Cafe/Bulk Foods business--we met with the design/architect company recently and are interviewing other firms to see what competition may offer. At this juncture--it looks like 1 to 2 years before we can start, etc.

However, if some of you are interested in what our future business may look like--check out friends of ours Market in Hagerstown, MD where some of our Mennonite friends opened a similar business years ago. This is what we envision as far as the Bulk Foods component of the Cafe idea. The web site is below of our friends Market which is located in Hagerstown and well worth the trip. Yes, Martin's owners are related to Martin Grocery stores as well.

www.martinsfarmmarket.net (Martin's Farm Market is a Mennonite Bulk Foods store located in Hagerstown, MD area and our business will be similar.)

Foodie

 

Fellow Foodies--

Added update--if any of "y'all--even Lee--would like "free samples" post here. I will be happy to let you try food samples of what we are planning. Since I already cook alot for my husband and 6 kiddos--I "bulk bake and prepare meals" ahead of time anyway.

Thanks,

Foodie

 

Foodie great idea! It would be nice to have something really different here. It is really sad that our world has moved away from Sundays being a family day. I'm sure lots of us remember growing up in areas when not much was open at all on a Sunday...pre-the I need it NOW...culture. I wonder what that says about today's world. Something that really chaps me is that due to so many kids playing sports, they now schedule them during the day on Sunday. Isn't anything sacred anymore?! I don't have anything about kids and sports...just the way things have been blown off to the side...when else are you going to have a day of rest and reflection to get away from the hard work week that just passed?

 

Brassy and others--

Yep, you are right. That is why we limit our kids activities too. By the way, why the new name--keeping typing Brassy@39?

Anyway, back to kids, etc., I quilted today at my home with some friends and we talked just on this subject. I can remember as a kid not having TV (no I am not ancient!) because we had farm chores, schoolwork, and other activities to do. I did not miss TV and we just were kids. Frankly, our kids rarely even see the TV. We only turn it on for news or weather. Kids need to be outside (when weather permits) playing and using their imaginations not their fingers to stroke the keyboards or play video games. Yes, our kids likes video games and the like--but we limit their usage on the computer, etc. Family time is precious to us--as it is in most families.

Back to Cafe/Bulk Foods idea--if you or anyone else--wishes to try or see what our future plans are--check out Martin's Farm Market in Hagerstown, MD. The Martin Family are Mennonite friends of ours and their relatives started Martin Grocery Stores (similar to Giant Foods--part of Giant Foods now--I believe). The web site for Martin's is--

www.martinsfarmmarket.net (Martin's site.)

If you would like to know where to order Amish meats, baked goods, etc., I can post later.

Foodie

 

Has anyone ever had "broasted" chicken at an Amish or Mennonite restaurant? I've had it lots of times in Holmes County, Ohio. It's kind of hard to describe - chicken marinated and fried under pressure, very moist and not greasy.

Foodie - I think broasted chicken could be your ticket. I think, though, that the term broasted is a registered trademark or process and you need to be franchised to do it. Still, worth a shot!