The new business will be located in a newly renovated space at 12 Monument Square. It will offer takeout meals, including soups and salads. Appetizers such as charcuterie boards will also be available.
Individual ingredients will also be for sale for shoppers to craft their own homemade meals. The Market’s owner Amy Forrest said that means providing some fresh produce as well as dried meats and a selection of different styles of chesses and spices.
She said the goal is to source some of those ingredients locally, which includes reaching out to entrepreneurs in the Urbana and Columbus areas. In doing so, she hopes to add dessert items such as locally sourced ice cream and other sweets.
This will be the latest business started by Forrest who also runs the catering business In Good Taste that started 12 years ago. She said her latest venture can help introduce new food items for customers as well as create a space that offers meal ideas and kitchen supplies.
“The goal is to focus on a variety of different elements. We will be a little more focused on complete meals but will also have some space for fresh ingredients,” Forrest said.
Forrest also operates a commercial kitchen in her hometown of Mechanicsburg. Her daughter owns the event venue The Hive in Mechanicsburg, which also used to have a coffee shop.
Forrest said all that plays a part in her new idea. She wanted her next step to be a physical store that would be centered on complete meals with fresh ingredients.
Forrest said an opportunity to open up a new business presented itself when Patrick and Patsy Thackery, who own Cafe Paradiso in downtown Urbana, purchased a building on Monument Square.
With that building undergoing renovations, Forrest said she began talking to the couple about leasing space. Now, she hopes to open The Market by the end of February and will have a small staff.
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