Cole Longcor
cwl002@marietta.edu
Caroline Perruci grew up in Marietta, before she travelled the world studying tea. She was looking to open her own tea farm in Vermont, then the pandemic hit. Now back in the area she found an unknown opportunity, the perfect piece of land just a few miles from where she grew up. Through word of mouth and the power of a small community Caroline was able to find what would become The Little Muskingum Kettle Farm.
Covid might be ending, but the sense of community has had a lasting impact on Caroline as she exclaimed, “Marietta can’t be beat!” While not what she had in mind, she wouldn’t want to move or start over. Caroline found out about the land from the perks of a small community and word-of-mouth, and that has been her business model since. Marketing consists of recommendations by happy costumers and other local businesses stocking her product and hanging posters in their windows.
While Caroline has been starting a new business, Mike and Lisa Walsh have been giving a town favorite new life at Over the Moon Pub & Pizza. Marietta expats living in sunny Florida returned to the Mid-Ohio Valley to be closer to their parents and family. While the pandemic was a difficult time for many businesses it served as a way to ease into owning a restaurant. Mike expressed that being closed for the pandemic allowed them to do renovations and cleaning as well as being able to learn the business end. Even with all the changes and uncertainty, they wanted to ensure the atmosphere was welcoming and that the community would continue to stand by them.
“We have been very well received. My wife and I are from this area and know a lot of folks already. They have been supportive. The community has been supportive. We are blessed” Mike explained.
Cassandra Clark also took a chance during the pandemic. Moving from California to be closer to family, she opened the Cozy Kitchen on Putnam Street. Once a caterer, Cassandra now runs a family-oriented breakfast and luncheonette with dishes taking cue from the name. Classic everyday dishes served with a foundation of local ingredients and sprinkle of creativity like blueberry-muffin French toast, homemade biscuits and gravy topped with cheese and a fried egg, burgers loaded high with pastrami, and BLTs with a fried green tomato. These amazing dishes have turned the little restaurant into a community favorite.
As Cassandra described, “This town has been very welcoming. From other restaurant owners to local customers, I have been welcomed with open arms. Within the first three months of being open, we were nominated in 8 different categories for Clutch MOV and this year eleven different ones for Marietta Times.”
Over the past two years there have been multiple businesses and restaurants that have opened, despite the pandemic. While many lives were changed either through externalities or reflection, some cases were for the better as people reconnected with friends and family. If there are two things that can be said about Marietta, it’s that there is a strong sense of family and that there are some great places to eat.
