Moose Creek to Offer Breakfast and Dinner

DAYTON-- Paul MacKay and his partner, Amy McGuire, have been busy putting their own touches on the Moose Creek Café and Bakery since MacKay bought it from Chuck and Raylene Sursley in January, 2016. MacKay is a financial manager, and McGuire looks to the day-to-day operations at the business

Since their "very quick" opening in February, 2016, the two have expanded seating at the café to an outside patio, introduced some seasonal local produce, and added an additional restroom.

They are now in the process of developing a "hot" line, with a broiler, six-burner range, double deep fryer, double convection oven and a flatbread deck oven, in order to expand the café menu to include breakfast and dinner, said MacKay.

"The goal is to establish a family, country comfort diner, executed well, using top quality local ingredients," said MacKay. "We want to turn the business into a destination restaurant, bakery, and gift shop."

"Some people want to grab and go. It'll be nice to have a sit down meal for people who want to stay," McGuire added.

McGuire said she received her culinary arts certification under the direction of Dan Thiessen at Walla Walla Community College. She said Thiessen called her to see if she would be willing to meet with MacKay, who was interested in purchasing the business, and needed a working partner.

"When Dan called there was a long pause," said McGuire. "I waited a day. Then, we met at Starbucks, at Safeway."

"She wasn't too sure," MacKay said. "I was persuasive."

"We met three days later at the Weinhard," McGuire said.

McGuire said she had her own interest in buying the business when it initially came up for sale, and she decided to go with her gut feelings after meeting MacKay.

"It was an intense time," said MacKay. "Amy took over and learned to be a baker in three weeks, shadowing Chuck. She got a crew she works well with," said MacKay.

"I haven't had a morning when I didn't want to go to work," McGuire said about the early morning hours she keeps as a baker, rising at 2:30 a.m.

MacKay and McGuire are looking for "a few good employees," and need line cooks in particular, for when the café opens for breakfast in May and in June, for dinner during the summer.

For more information about the Moose Creek Café and Bakery, contact Amy McGuire at (509) 520-3647. Or contact Paul MacKay at (206) 352-1450 ext.101, or (206) 755-5257, or by email at pmackay@elgaucho.com.