Have you ever wanted to take the plunge and go after your dreams? Turn your passion into reality. That is precisely what Monica Carvajal-Beben did last year. Our small town now has an entertaining and unique Pie shop. I got the chance to sit down and visit with Monica or Mo, as we all know her, last week. Her story is an inspiration.
Mo and her husband Tom own Smoking Mo’s Barbecue restaurant and Catering and The Magnolia Room. Both are very successful businesses.
So you might ask why to open another business? Did she have that much extra time on your hands? Believe it or not, the answer to that last question is yes. Tom and Mo welcomed a beautiful daughter into their lives three years ago, and that allowed Mo to pull back from the restaurant. What she did not plan is that the restaurant was also her identity or so she thought. With the restaurant running just fine without her having to put in the hours and the challenges of being a new mother Mo was looking for something of her own.
Mo was an art major in college and coupled with growing up at her Mom and Grandma’s Pie shop. The inspiration of Craft Pie Art Bar was born. Now it did not just happen but, taking opportunities when they occur is just want Mo did.
The small space that is now the home of Craft came available, and Tom and Mo need to extend their kitchen for their catering business, and the area came with a fully equipped commercial grade kitchen. The initial plan was to use the kitchen for catering and use the dining room for Mo’s art studio. Drawing is what makes Mo happy and grounds her. But as Mo says, “I don’t do anything simply.”
Mo grew up in the south, and her Mother and Grandma had a pie shop. She always has a pipe dream of opening her own pie shop. So she thought what about now. Is our small town ready for a Pie shop? Now this Pie shop would have an extra twist on it. Mo was envisioning a Pie Shop that was a night spot. An adult Pie Shop. She even had a name for it. Ala Mode another Mo! The idea was to create a space where local artist can show their work. Our town, Shelton, is the home of so many artists. The problem is there are limited places to show their work. So she thought if she was going to bake pies and show art why not add a reasonable profit margin to the equation and offer a bar that featured craft cocktails.
So with the support of her husband Mo began the venture to create her own mold. As she said, there is was no model to following. There are Sip and Paint shops but nothing that features Local Artist, Sweet and Savory Pies, Craft Cocktails and lots of space to create while you enjoy great company. Craft official opened on Pie Day, June 28, 2018, at 3:14pm in the afternoon.
If you have the opportunity to visit our small town, Shelton, Washington, make sure you stop by Craft Pie Art Bar. As their website says, “Our goal here is to cultivate a haven for art creators and enthusiasts of all ages to share and nurture their ideas and their talents. We proudly feature a local artist each month, and we encourage everyone, regardless of their experience, to embrace their creative spirit while here.” Along with that they also serve scratch-made sweet and savory pies, as well as homemade soup and salad.
If this project inspired you, then check out some of my other projects for more inspiration!
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