We are pleased to announce the newest business at the WCPNC, Phoebe’s Pastry Cafe on Division! As a small, family owned business, the new location at The Center will be Phoebe’s second cafe in Olympia, serving sweet and savory specialties to passersby. The new Cafe on Division will be primarily a grab and go eatery, perfect for a quick lunch or a coffee break. During the sunny months there will also be outdoor seating available on the patio and at the nearby park.
Owner Phoebe Martinson and her family are long time Olympians with a passion for food and a love for the local community. Born and raised in Olympia, Phoebe had the opportunity to visit Wagner’s Bakery for a vocational day in 6th grade. The experience of spending most of the day with owner Rudy Wagner made Phoebe fall in love with the industry, launching her into a career in food. After graduating from high school, she went on to attend cooking school at the age of 17 as one of South Seattle Community College’s youngest culinary students.
Following their college years, both Phoebe and her husband Dan, also a professional chef, left the area to work professionally in the food industry in Seattle and then Los Angeles. But as their family began to grow, the small town community feel of Olympia brought them back to raise their children here.
Over the years since returning to the Olympia area, both Phoebe and Dan have remained active in the food industry as chefs and culinary arts instructors. Prior to running her own shop, Phoebe spent 15 years as the culinary arts instructor at New Market Skills Center and as a manager at various other local food establishments. Dan has taught the culinary arts program at South Puget Sound Community College for the past 23 years and still going strong!
In 2012, they finally had the opportunity to open their own shop, a longtime dream both Phoebe and Dan shared. With the inception of Phoebe’s Pastry Cafe, the business quickly became a family venture, including their sons Jacob and Thomas. Before going off to medical school, their Thomas worked alongside his parents at the cafe. And now their oldest son Jacob, who has been working as a professional chef in Maui for the past six years, will be returning to Olympia to manage the new cafe on Division while Phoebe continues to manage the cafe on Copper Point Road.
The Cooper Point location will remain a sit down or take-out cafe and the kitchen will be focused on production of the sweet food items. The new, smaller Cafe on Division will be a grab and go shop and focus on producing the savory items. But have no fear, the two kitchens will be sharing goodies so you can pick up your favorite sweet or savory treats at either location!
Look for Phoebe’s Pastry Cafe on Division opening this Fall at the West Central Park Neighborhood Center! You can also visit their other location at 1800 Cooper Point Rd SW #13, Olympia, WA 98502 for a good sit down meal or to place larger catering orders.
For more information about Phoebe’s Pastry Cafe on Division, including a tasty gallery of treats and a collection of pictures from the building renovation process, please visit The Bakery page and be sure to subscribe to our blog for future updates and grand opening announcements!
