Olive Marketplace and Cafe
Now Open
21 Main St.
Walla Walla, WA
Open daily from 7 A.M. to 9 P.M, with breakfast served from 7-11 A.M. and cafe menu available from 11 A.M. to closing
Press Release
T. MACCARONE'S RESTAURANT ACQUIRES MERCHANTS LTD;
WILL REOPEN AS OLIVE MARKETPLACE AND CAFE
Successful Walla Walla bistro expands with second location - takes the reins of 34 year old Main Street establishment
WALLA WALLA, Wash - December 27, 2009 - A changing of the guards is underway at a well-known downtown Walla Walla eatery. Tom Maccarone and Chef Jake Crenshaw, co-owners of T. Maccarone's restaurant, have purchased Merchants Ltd. delicatessen from the Austin family and will reopen the business in mid-January as Olive Marketplace and Cafe. T. Maccarone's will continue its nightly dinner and lounge service at the established 4 North Colville Street bistro, but will move its popular breakfast and lunch business to the new 5,000 square foot cafe and market at 21 Main Street.
Olive promises an exciting food experience for both in-house diners and home cooks alike. The cafe menu features a variety of T. Maccarone's favorites with the addition of new breakfast entrees, sandwiches, house-made pizzas, and a full selection of espresso drinks, beer, and wine. Olive's marketplace pays tribute to the signature elements behind T. Maccarone's ongoing success - retailing fresh meat and seafood, house-made pastas and sauces, cured-meats and sausages, and an assortment of fresh-baked breads and pastries. A rotating selection of wine, dry goods, and culinary merchandise will round out Olive's unique retail offerings.
"Merchants has been a respected part of our community for more than three decades and we are honored to continue this legacy with our well-known approach to food, wine, and outstanding service" said Tom Maccarone, a Walla Walla native who opened T. Maccarone's in 2005. "Whether joining us for a meal or picking up fresh ingredients for dinner, Olive Marketplace and Cafe will offer something for everyone."
Established by the Austin family in 1976, Merchants has been a Main Street fixture for more than 34 years. Famous for its green- and red-striped awning and wide selection of food, wine, and specialty baked goods, the business was an early pioneer in the evolution of Walla Walla's now flourishing hospitality industry.
"As hard as it is to say goodbye to our customers and the business our family has nurtured for so many years, we know we are passing the torch to a new generation dedicated the highest quality products and service," said Bob Austin, former owner and manager of Merchants Ltd.. "Tom and Jake have proven themselves as both creative and passionate business owners and we know they’ll be successful in this new venture."
Coincidentally, the Maccarone family also staked an early claim in the local restaurant scene, when Tom Sr. and Francis Maccarone opened an Italian deli on Main Street - the same year Merchants first opened its doors. Named "That's Italian," the business featured fresh-made pasta, "Grandma's Famous Meatballs," and a bounty of Italian delights. As a child, Maccarone recalls spending countless hours in his parents' shop and attributes much of his passion for the restaurant business to his food-loving family.
"Food, wine, and laughter around a table have always been a big part of our family," says Maccarone. "We work to create that same experience for our customers every day - and Olive is the perfect extension to this approach."
Beginning mid-January, Olive Marketplace and Cafe will be open daily from 7 A.M. to 9 P.M, with breakfast served from 7-11 A.M. and cafe menu available from 11 A.M. to closing. Beverage and retail service will be available during all business hours.
Media contact:
Joe Gurriere
ClearPath Communications
(509)525-4321
joe@clearpathpr.com
