When east coast native Michelle McConnell would visit Healdsburg with her 4-month-old baby in tow, she would walk past Plaza Gourmet and peer into the window, thinking maybe someday she would become the owner of the quaint cookware store. Now, after years of dreaming, McConnell made that thought a reality when she took over ownership of Plaza Gourmet this past summer.
Originally opened 37 years ago by David Robinson, McConnell is now the fourth owner of the Matheson Street store and has been at the helm for about four months now.
“In December of 1994 we stayed in Healdsburg for a week and we were seriously thinking about moving here. It didn’t happen, but I absolutely fell in love with it,” McConnell said. “And then in September of 2014, I knew this was the place I wanted to be.”
She decided to purchase the store in July, after her two sons started leaving the nest.
“Cooking has always been my favorite passion … but I am absolutely excited (about finally owning the store). It is amazing what you can manifest if you decide to do it,” she said.
Hailing from New Jersey, McConnell was always interested in food and cooking and manifested that love when she enrolled in culinary school after high school.
Later she became a pastry chef at a high-end restaurant in New Jersey, working 16 hours, six days a week.
When asked what her favorite dessert to cook is, she mentioned her apple cranberry tart with sautéed apples and a cranberry relish, calling it a “labor of love.”
But what does she do now as a storeowner?
“It is a lot of ordering, shipping, receiving and a lot of things in the back office here and of course helping customers,” she said.
McConnell added that so far the most rewarding part of the job is seeing people be kind to one another, whether it’s purchasing a little gift for someone or giving a smile.
“The most wonderful thing in this store is when I see people doing nice things for each other, it makes me cry every time I think about it,” McConnell said, choking up. “People take care of and are kind to each other and I just feel like there is a lot of joy here.”
On the other hand, the most challenging aspect of her new role has been trying to keep up with all of the shipments, yet she did say the fun part is opening them when they arrive.
“It feels like Christmas morning when they arrive,” she quipped.
Overall, McConnell said of her ownership of the store, “It is a bit scary because it is the unknown, but I think I am the happiest I have ever been in my entire life.”
Curious about Plaza Gourmet? The store is located at 108 Matheson St. and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
