Heather's Country Kitchen opens
The staff of Heather's Country Kitchen just days before opening the new restaurant on Tuesday. From left to rigth: Courtney Deery, Heather Worrall, Amber Vacura, Beth Vacura, Shirley Boles, then my cooks, Rock Julian and Royce Johnston.
Heather Worrall saw an opportunity to make her dream come true and she wasn’t about to let it go.
Just six weeks after purchasing the old Country Kettle, Worrall and her husband Robert unveiled their new restaurant, Heather’s County Kitchen, as it opened to the public on Tuesday.
“Ever since we met, my husband has been telling me I should open a restaurant,” Worrall said. “It was the right opportunity at the right time to jump in with both feet.”
After moving to Plains eighteen months ago, Worrall has been looking to either buy or
start a business of her own. She saw that the Country Kettle was for sale, and after talking it over with her husband, made an offer within a few days.
Having recently moved from Battleground, WA Worrall recalled having eaten dinner one evening at Benji’s. Worrall couldn’t help but notice how friendly her waitress, Amber Vacura, was. Worrall was taken aback by Vacura’s contagious laugh and infectious personality.
Worrall remembers turning to her daughter Courtney and saying, “I hope we become friends.”
In a fortuidous turn of events for Worrall, Benji’s, would close for the winter, leaving nearly an entire restaurant staff in need of work. Now, Vacura and her mother, Beth, will join a handful of other former Benji’s employees at Worrall’s new restaurant.
Worrall felt, this was a good opportunity, not only for her and her family, but for the community at large, offering jobs and a nice place to eat. So far, she said the reception she’s gotten from community members and passers by has been positive.
With a desire to run her business as much like a family as possible, Worrall wanted to staff her restaurant with people having similar personalities that all like to have fun. She has found just that in Amber, Beth, Rock Johnston, Royce Julian, Sarah Nester and Shirlie Boles, all formerly of Benji’s.
To complete the family affair, Heather’s daughter (Courtney) will be waitressing and father (Jack Deary) has been helping out in any way he can.
Fitting the family motif, the restaurant’s theme is “home cooking. Worrall wants to offer her customers fresh food at an affordable price. Nearly everything on the menu will be home made, including: mashed potatoes, hamburger patties, French fries, sloppy Joes, soups, potato salad and desserts. The dishes will be made up of a blend of family recipes, and favorites from Benji’s.
Menu items will include biscuits and gravy omlettes, specialty hamburgers, specialty sandwiches, steak, meat loaf, pork chops and daily specials.
Those close to her say Worrall has remained especially calm, during the often hectic adventure of opening a restaurant. Worrall admits that it has been stressful at times, but she has been reminding herself to stay patient and insists that nothing has taken away her excitement about becoming a first time business owner.
“There is a lot of stuff to do. It’s more than just going in and flipping burgers,” Worrall said. “There have been some interesting and long nights in here, but it will be worth it in the end.”
Not has Worrall been making the restaurant feel like home with decorations, she has been
getting her business ready to open. In the past three weeks, Worrall has had to cross all her T’s and dot all her I’s. Everything from cleaning, inspections and setting up basic utilities has kept her and her family busy.
Heather’s Country Kithen will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Worrall expects to be open seven days a week with extended hours this summer.