The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Positively Pasta owners are shifting their focus to making pasta
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POTTSTOWN — After 13 years at 115 High St. in downtown Pottstown, the café at Positively Pasta is closing. Owners Karen and Chris Foster have made the decision to close down the café part of the business so they can focus on their pasta manufacturing.
The couple sent a letter recently to about 120 of their regular customers, letting them know that Oct. 11 will be the last day for Positively Pasta’s café.
“We have been fortunate to be in Pottstown now for almost 13 years and it has been our pleasure to serve each and every one of you,” the couple said in the letter.
It is the pasta manufacturing side of the business that gave the couple their start 26 years ago, and Karen Foster said that trying to do both the café and the manufacturing was starting to take too many hours.
“It (the pasta business) hasn’t grown, because we’re focusing everything here in the café. We don’t have a sales person for the pasta business, which is what Chris is now going to do,” Foster said. “Our youngest son (Garrett, 23) works here and will stay on to help with manufacturing and delivery.” But the building will not be idle. Renovations will begin Oct. 13 for Lily’s Grill, with a planned opening date of Nov. 4 under new owner Adam Burke.
And Positively Pasta’s manufacturing process will stay in the building. The Fosters will distribute their product via several restaurants and retail outlets in Pa. and N.J., and they are looking to get back into Delaware.
“We’re going to still make it here on the premises. We own the building so we’re going to share the building. Adam will have the dining room and kitchen and we’ll have the manufacturing behind the kitchen where it is now.”
Chris Foster has been the chef at Positively Pasta Plus, and Karen Foster has been the front of the house manager. She said she is not yet sure what her new role will be. “The sky’s the limit for me,” she said.
Foster said the decision to make a change actually came about fairly quickly, although it had been a topic of discussion in the Foster house. She said her husband was talking with a couple of people in August, and mentioned that he was thinking of leasing out the restaurant. The next day, Burke called. And the rest, as they say, is history. Burke joined the Fosters during Pottstown’s Carousel of Flavor Sept. 29, so area residents have already gotten a taste of what Lily’s Grill will bring to downtown. Burke characterizes Lily’s as “farm fresh, modern cuisine,” and plans to use local products as much as possible. The website for Lily’s has lunch offerings that include burgers, salads and sandwiches, as well as risotto and scallops.
Foster said there is nothing special planned for this final week of operations for Positively Pasta’s café, just the same kind of food they have been known for. She did say she had one special request for Macaroni and Cheese.
“I usually do some chocolates around holiday time, and I’m going to be passing those out all week long as a little thank you to people since we aren’t going to be here for the next holiday,” she added.
Foster said the change is bittersweet. But she is quick to say that they have had a chance to live their dreams. When they got engaged, Chris asked Karen what her dream was and she said “to own a café.”
“We’ve worked hard over the last 13 years and made it happen. That’s why it’s bittersweet,” she said. “You don’t want to give up your dream. But on the other side of that coin we had an opportunity 26 years ago to start a business and then again 13 years ago to expand and we are now paying that forward and giving a young person an opportunity to pursue his dream. We’ve accomplished ours. Not everybody has the chance.”
Foster said Positively Pasta products will be sold, for now, at several locations that have been long-standing customers: Ludwig’s Corner Market, Wayne Farmers Market and the Flourtown Farmers Market. She added that there is the possibility other retail outlets or restaurants in Pottstown may want to do some retail pasta products.
In addition, individual orders can still be re-ordered and arrangements made for pick-up.
For information about Positively Pasta and their products, call 484-9451007 or visit www.positivelypasta.com or find them on Facebook.
For more information about Lily’s Grill, visit www.lily’sgrill.com.
Follow Donna Rovins on Twitter @ MercBiz.