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By Dena Wood
The Times 

Gleason's Galley Set to Open Next Week

Karen Gleason has big plans for her little shop across from Preston Park

 

Dena Wood

Karen Gleason peeks her head out of the storefront of Gleason's Galley located just off Preston Avenue in the Ag Link parking lot.

WAITSBURG – Karen Gleason took advantage of her recent medical retirement as an officer at the Washington State Penitentiary to follow her dream of starting an "old school" restaurant in Waitsburg. Gleason's Galley, a mini espresso bar and deli located on the AG- Link service station lot on the corner of Preston and Coppei is set to open on Sunday, for Mother's Day, if all goes as planned.

Gleason was hired on at the penitentiary in 2002 but was recently forced into medical retirement. "When they told me I would never be released to be an officer again, I knew I could go into the secretarial pool or into counseling or I could leave and do something I really wanted to do," she said. "I did my time and it was time to get out."

Gleason , who worked for 16 years at Mr. Ed's restaurant in Walla Walla before becoming a correctional officer, said she has always wanted to start a restaurant.

"I'm trying to bring back 'old school' cooking to people who haven't experienced it," she said. "I'll have comfort foods like meatloaf and hamhocks and beans, those kinds of things. If it's not homemade, it's not coming out of my shop."

Gleason plans to open at 5 a.m. and will be ready and waiting with homemade biscuits and gravy, daily. She also plans to bring in homemade baked goods from Hidden Valley Bakery in Walla Walla. "It won't be my homemade, but it's still homemade," she said. "I'll add to it with my own homemade muffins or wine breads – whatever I feel like that day."

The standard menu will feature ham, roast beef and turkey sandwiches and a homemade soup. Gluten-free bread from Hidden Valley Bakery will also be available. Gleason plans to have a homemade dessert daily and will serve clam chowder in bread bowls on Friday.

Each Friday, from 5-8:30 p.m., she will offer a rib special, featuring boneless ribs, coleslaw, cowboy beans, a cornbread muffin, dessert and a drink. She'll also offer daily specials like pulled pork sandwiches or haystacks that will be on the whiteboard, but not on the standard menu.

"I'm not doing this to get rich. I'm doing it because it's my passion," Gleason said. "I want people to experience some of the things that made me and my family happy growing up. Food that makes you feel good," she added.

The name and look of the shop are also a result of Gleason's passions. "I went with Gleason's Galley because there's nothing I enjoy more than being on my boat and fishing. What better theme than a boat galley?" she said. "I love a nautical theme. An American flag will be my open sign. It's very Americana," she added.

Dena Wood

Gleason smiles for the camera from inside the kitchen of her new shop.

All meals will be packaged to go and can be taken home or eaten at the park across the street. Gleason hopes to place a few picnic tables near the shop as well. Her space is leased from Ag Link, and she said the one stipulation is that people can't park in front of the restaurant. "It reminds me of the Iceberg in Walla Walla, but without the pull-up," she said.

Gleason says she will offer delivery (with notice) and will accept phone and text orders.

"People can text me their orders, let me know what time they want it, and I'll have it ready for them," she said. "The school kids can text their lunch orders ahead, or I can make lunches and have them delivered to the farmers in the summer."

Gleason plans to be open 5 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. "Saturdays are still up in the air," she said. Orders can be phoned or texted to 629-3111 and debit and credit cards will be accepted.

A special Celebration Days weekend limited menu will include pulled pork sandwiches, nachos, chili, chili dogs, and teriyaki rice bowls.

 

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