Today we went for a ride - the weather was fabulous - 72 and sunny and breezy - another bonus day of summer for us in the Pacific Northwest. We were getting hungry and in the area we were driving through there are few places to eat - we've been past this place before - it looks like an old gas station with a grocery store attached. Well, it is a gas station - and the pumps say "Real Gas" on them. You can pull under the little canopy and fill your car, then step up one BIG step into the store/restaurant.
It is so much more than I had figured it would be - oh my. A cute dining room with bentwood chairs at little round tables, a patio for outdoor dining, a deli and store with all sorts of fabulous things to buy - cookies, brownies, books by local authors, drinks - there was no end to the wonders filling the fairly small space in the store.
We wanted sandwiches for a picnic on this fine day - so we browsed their fabulous menu and each picked half a sandwich - made with the local BreadFarm's great bread. They packaged up our sandwiches, and a dill pickle for each of us - it smelled so good. On the way out I took a picture of this sunflower - a perfect autumn photo.
See the bee on the left side of the center of the sunflower?
And a picture of their sign on the side of the building - it describes the place perfectly.
There is so much more going on there than just a deli/cafe/store - and you can read all about it HERE
There are books for sale, games to play; chess, cribbage, etc. while waiting for your meal, or just for relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere. It is like the old general store of long ago, a community center. We've driven past dozens of times, I wonder now why we didn't stop in sooner. And besides all that - the back wall is decorated with dozens of hand held egg beaters - delightful.
They have cider tasting coming up, a Farmer's Market until November and other events, or you can even rent the store for a private party. This looks like it will be one of new favorite places to go.
Oh My JoAnn. I loved reading about this treasure of a place and wish it was near me. It would make a perfect Artist Date.
ReplyDeleteYou always find the best places, JoAnn! I hope you do more posts on this great place in the future! I love finding special places like this. xo
ReplyDeleteThis sounds a really good place - I take it you'll be going back:) Lovely sunflower photo too.t
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad places like this still exist. Our kids only know the drive-up window at Starbucks!
ReplyDeleteYour sunflower is lovely - didn't notice the bee until you mentioned it! My grandkids and I have talking about camouflage in the woods behind our house. A majestic owl we saw yesterday was nearly impossible to spot once he landed in a tree!
Charming!
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