A pair of entrepreneurial neighbors are opening a new restaurant/bakery in West Liberty, taking a different approach in a business world that has struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taking a leap of faith because “the opportunity was there,” West Liberty residents Donna Alberti and Stacie Teel are opening “Savor By Chef D/Serving Sweet Life by Stacie” later this month, but the business is already taking orders for the Christmas and New Year holidays, trying to get a start on the dream they’ve been talking about for the past two years.
The partners had been hunting for the right spot to set up their business for months and when Mango Landia, an American/Mexican restaurant that also served ice cream dishes, decided to close their doors weeks ago, they jumped on the opportunity to rent the former two-story bank building on the corner of Third and Calhoun Streets.
The pair said, because of the pandemic, they are opening only three days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, for breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m.-2 p.m., but put options out there to grow the business, host special dinner “date nights” for couples, and eventually open the top floor of the building, offering it for special events, family gatherings, reunions, parties and receptions, including adding a bar to offer alcohol.
“We wanted to be a little different,” said Alberti, noting they didn’t want to be overwhelmed in the opening weeks of their business, making sure they have time to put things together to make sure “everything we prepare for customers, we can deliver.”
The ladies had previously talked about putting together an exclusive catering business that featured their specialties. Alberti, a certified culinary arts chef since 2015 with a degree from Kirkwood Community College, says she simply “loves to feed people.”
Although the restaurant will have a menu that will feature basic breakfast dishes like bacon and eggs, biscuits and gravy, omelets and French toast as well as homemade macaroni and cheese, home-made fries, cheeseburgers and more for lunch, Alberti plans to have unique daily specials as well as hosting special events that will feature some of her culinary delights like Risotto, pan-seared duck breast, seared scallops, salmon and even southern cooking.
“Our menu will be American and comfort foods,” Alberti said, noting she doesn’t really have a specialty. "My specialty is enjoying people eat what I prepare.”
On the other hand, Teel brings a whole different specialty to the business – the sweet side, adding to the menu cakes, pies, cinnamon rolls, donuts, brownies, cookies, croissants and cupcakes.
Teel, who has raised her six children in West Liberty and previously operated a day-care business, is a self-taught baker, creating cakes for birthdays and special occasions including weddings, while offering to bake just about anything sweet a consumer may desire, including a variety of fruit and crème pies. “I’ve been making cakes and baked goods for family and friends for years,” said Teel of her in-home business.
She says her pecan pies are “everybody’s favorite,” but it was pointed out she makes an incredible Red Velvet Cake as well as a Reese’s’ Peanut Butter Cup cake.
The pair has also done some redecorating inside the first floor of the building, creating what they call a “sassy, classy farm house” look, but seating is limited due to COVID restrictions and the pair said they want to make things safe as well as comfortable.
The partners said one thing they didn’t have to change was the kitchen, where all the equipment they needed was already in place, a bonus that helped make renting the location an easy decision.
Alberti and Teel say they want to try to take on the business without hiring a lot of help, although two of Teel’s older daughters, Ariana and Claudia, who have experience waitressing at other restaurants, will be helping along with Alberti’s daughter, Krista. Alberti also said she learned the entire aspects of running a restaurant when she worked at Class Act, an all-day restaurant on the Kirkwood campus.
The partners haven’t set a solid opening date yet, but are hoping to be serving breakfast and lunch by the last week in December “or possibly the first week in January,” but, in the meanwhile, bakery goods for the holidays are available through special orders and Alberti says she’s also planning a special New Year’s Eve dinner by reservation only.
She says West Liberty hasn’t had a lot of success with high-end restaurants and wants to take small steps and a different approach to create a successful endeavor they hope will create a destination restaurant for the community. “We hope to evolve,” Alberti said.
“It’s exciting. I’m nervous, but excited,” added Teel, pointing out when the two met, “we just clicked,” noting they’ve worked together on some special events in the past, including weddings.
To contact the restaurant/bakery or place an order, call Alberti at 417-793-3214 or Teel at 319-930-1524 or check them out on Facebook.