Story Photos
 Photo by Bill Wagner Owner Audi Belcher, left, and Kaylee Joslen run the counter and kitchen at the Thyme Square Bistro at The Merk in Longview. |
Talking Business: Bistro opens with proven menu
Monday, September 17, 2007 7:00 AM PDT
By Evan Caldwell, columnist
Printable version
E-mail this articleCathlamet resident Audi Belcher has bought her former restaurant's popular menu to her new eatery inside The Merk building in downtown Longview.
Belcher bought Thyme Square Cafe in August and changed its name to Thyme Square Bistro.
"Basically we want to be a cozy little place to enjoy some food," she said. "We've added an espresso bar, and we plan to put a trellis up to close off the area."
Belcher, who owns the 100-year-old Bradley House Inn in Cathlamet, started a restaurant in March at the historic inn after hiring a chef.
"But we had to close in April when the chef left," Belcher said. "I couldn't do 100 lunches by myself."
Now, the inn is for sale and Belcher's focus is on improving Thyme Square.
"I think we are different from other restaurants on the block," she said. "Everyone on the block has a hamburger, we don't. Everyone's got their own little niche. I just want to be different and be the best with my menu."
Belcher said the Bradley House's menu has proved to be popular at Thyme Square, "especially the chicken salad sandwiches."
Thyme Square's hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Coffee and pastries are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The number is 425-7939.
"This is something I really enjoy doing," she said. "The daily fellowship keeps me going."
Kerr Car Care moves, expands
Richard and Renee Kerr and their son-in-law, Manuel Rascon, have moved Kerr Car Care to 504 W. Main St. in West Kelso from 949 15th Ave. in Longview.
Their shop, which opened about two months ago, repairs and services foreign and domestic vehicles, including motorhomes.
"We needed something with a bigger space. We are getting a lot of motorhomes lately," Renee Kerr said.
The Kerrs also bought Muffler Hut and moved that business to the West Kelso location. The shop is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The number is 636-2340.
Panda Express rising at Triangle
Panda Express, a fast casual Chinese restaurant chain, is building a new outlet in the Northwest corner of the Triangle Shopping Center in Longview, near the corner of Ocean Beach Highway and 15th Avenue.
The restaurant is scheduled to open early in 2008, according to a spokeswoman for the Rosemead, Calif.-based company.
The chain has nearly 1,000 restaurants in 35 states. The nearest existing Panda Express is in Vancouver, Wash.
Longview shop wins award
Longview Sewing and Kitchen was recently awarded Top 10 status at the annual Baby Lock Sewing Machine Co. convention.
According to the Longview Sewing press release, the business ranked eighth in the nation for sales of Baby Lock sewing machines, sergers and embroidery machines. Baby Lock, owned by Fenton, Mo.-based Tascony Corp., has more than 420 dealerships in the United States.
Longview Sewing and Kitchen is located at 945 Washington Way in Longview. It is open 9 a.m .to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Saturday.
If you know about a business opening, closing or going through major changes, contact reporter Evan Caldwell . He can be reached at evan.caldwell@tdn.com. or Talking Business, The Daily News, P.O. Box 189, Longview, WA 98632.
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