Chess Piece Cafe’s New Business
FREDERICTON — Chess Piece Pâtisserie & Cafe, the Parisian-style dessert café founded by Patti Hollenberg, is getting a new neighbour in a couple of weeks.
The idea for the new spot came from Chess Piece also operating its side business, the Queen Street Creamery ice cream truck. Its ice cream is made on the second floor of the café but sales stop once the summer is over and temperatures dip.
“I’ve always wanted to have Queen Street Creamery on Queen Street. We’ve actually been trying for the last couple of years to find a location for it,” said Hollenberg.
However, Hollenberg felt like a new business would have to provide more than just ice cream. So she thought about what kind of services were needed in Fredericton and how Chess Piece could play a part in it.
She realized that, other than the cheese market at the Saturday Boyce Farmers Market and grocery stores, there is no place to get cheese and other charcuterie items in the city.
“That’s where we kind of landed,” said Hollenberg. “I’m a fan of all things dairy so … I just am trying to play to our strengths and supply something that would be needed and well-received in the community.”
Hollenberg names the new shop Chess Piece Market. Other than selling cured meats and cheeses, Hollenberg wants to sell grocery products in this new Deli-style location – items that will go alongside the selection of charcuterie items. She plans to include balsamic vinegar, salts, olives, crackers, canned San Marzano tomatoes, Spanish and Portuguese tinned fish, and other imported goods.
Chutneys are another product Hollenberg wants to offer, along with hand-made preserves through the Chess Piece kitchen. To serve all her customers, the new location will also offer a selection of plant-based charcuterie products.
She also hopes to sell fresh, baked-in-house bread. This is in the works as one of their ovens caught fire in April and are awaiting the new one.
This location will be more of a deli grocer where customers can come to buy all their ingredients together in one stop, although Chess Piece will continue to sell sandwiches at its café.
“The whole thing of it is I don’t want to steal the business from Chess Piece, like the market next door isn’t going to sell coffee [and] we’re going to be open a little bit later.”
There is no set opening date yet, but Hollenberg said they are hoping to open by the beginning of October. This timeline all depends on the arrival of products and the hiring of staff.
Hollenberg is excited to see how the new location will be received by its customers.
“I’m trying to look at the business very holistically and supply product that I feel is caliber enough with the foundations and the groundwork that I’ve set.”
Jessica Saulnier is an intern with Huddle in Fredericton. Send her feedback or tips: [email protected]