2020 has proved to be a crazy ride for everybody, but TJ Huntley didn’t let the pandemic slow her business progress down. Instead, she buckled up, held on tight, and put herself behind the driving wheel of her own future and has found a way to thrive in the chaos.
On Dec. 16, 2019, Huntley opened a new family run food service in Eagle Grove – Huntley’s PitStop. It wasn’t a dine-in restaurant, but instead featured hot breakfasts to go as well as take and heat freezer meals. She was thrilled with the community’s response. Then COVID hit. It was tough, but the community continued to support her, getting meals to go as they had come accustom to. When Huntley realized there was now an even greater need for food to go because of shut downs and quarantines, she broadened her services. She added daily specials, curb side pick up, and even deliveries. While many were wondering what the future would hold for the business, Huntley pursued her future as an Eagle Grove business. She spent the last several months planning to grow her business even more.
“The vision of expanding came long before COVID,” said Huntley. “I saw the need for another place to gather and enjoy some family time…a place to have coffee and rolls for the retired…a place where people can come and enjoy a home-cooked meal and the company of each other.”
This meant if she wanted to have a place for people to come in and sit down to enjoy their food, she would have to find another place…and she did. She went from 213 W. Broadway next door to 211 W. Broadway (in the Former Slay studio) next to Grammas’ Attic. In addition to seating, the big change at Huntley’s PitStop is that they are now also serving a delicious supper menu. Hungry for breakfast/brunch…they have their famous biscuits and gravy and breakfast sandwiches but now they’ve also got cinnamon/caramel rolls, pancakes, waffles , french toast, omelettes, and eggs Benedict. Have hungry kids? They have a kids’ menu, and just wait until you see what she has in store for them this summer – there’s talk they will be served up on a frisbee. But wait…there’s more. Now you can also get gluten-free items as well as bakery, pastries and desserts. Before you leave, you can still even pick up a freezer meal to be enjoyed the next day.
The dinning room opened for business on Friday, Dec. 4, but Huntley kindly reminds everyone to follow safety protocols and practice social distancing while inside.
“I feel we really need to work together as a community to stay safe during COVID,” she said.
If you’re not comfortable quite yet dining in, you can still enjoy one of your favorite dishes, or a try one of the many new ones they have to offer, by calling in for curb side pickup or deliver.
New hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. with set specials every day of the week. Saturdays and Sundays they are open 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Cooking for others has long been a passion of Huntley’s and she is thrilled to not only to be making it happen, but to now be growing the business and helping others in town in a new way as well.
Huntley is thrilled to welcome April Mason as one of her new employees, and looks to employe a few other community members as well. It’s a win/win for everyone…more jobs…more meals…more time together, which we are all looking forward to, post COVID.
