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Sixteen years ago, Peggy’s Place became a part of
the community when it was opened by Peggy Payne. In that time, she
built a strong business that included all kinds of made from scratch
baked goods and sweets along with continuing on the Fat Boys BBQ
that was started by her husband Tom in the early days of the Up In
Smoke Barbecue Competitions in Lincoln.
In a conversation with Hilary Rempe last week, LDN learned that
Payne began thinking about retiring from the business. Rempe said
one day she jokingly suggested to Payne that she might buy the
business. Payne took to the idea and began working toward that end
result. Rempe had been with Peggy’s Place a
number of years across two different time frames. She recalled that
when she first started at the shop she didn’t know much about baking
and really didn’t think she could learn, but Payne coached and
taught her and Rempe found a love for creating sweet treats. Then
the next step was to get Rempe involved in preparing the savory
foods the shop offers daily. Rempe said Payne eased her into that as
well, and by the time all was said and done, she was making food
from scratch, just as Payne had always done, and loving it.
This week, at the ribbon cut, it was mentioned that
the celebration was about continuing on a strong business and
moreover about celebrating Rempe who is now a first-time business
owner.
In the week prior, Rempe had said that she had been blessed to have
two people helping her through the process and ultimately making it
possible for her to purchase the business. She named Andrea Runge of
the Lincoln Economic Advancement and Development (LEAD) organization
and Dave Irwin of the Heartland Bank, State Bank of Lincoln Branch.
Tuesday both Runge and Irwin were in attendance at the ribbon
cutting. Both were asked to speak, with Runge being the first.
Andrea Runge, standing center
Runge said she was very pleased to be able to support
Rempe. She said that Peggy’s Place was at the center of the
community and an important part of that community. She said that she
had been excited to help Rempe with the purchase process. It was
noted that LEAD assists businesses existing in new in procuring
grants that will assist them with start-up loans or operating costs.
Dave Irwin, standing center
Irwin said that he had been happy to be a part of
Rempe being able to purchase the business. He said that Runge had
been there to assist with getting the extra hand up that Rempe
needed for the purchase. He said Runge had come up with programs
that were available to Rempe that “quite frankly helped Hillary get
to the finish line.”
Rempe had many family members with her including her
parents, husband, children, and her grandmother Sullivan. As guests
were speaking, Grandma Sullivan recalled that way back when the
building that now houses Peggy’s Place was built with the help of
her oldest grandson Mike. At that time it was an ice cream shop,
then it became Peggy’s Place. She said it was fun to think that the
building that was built by her grandson now belonged to her
granddaughter.
Among the other guests in the group were County Board Member Kathy
Schmidt, Lincoln Ward Four Alderman Craig Eimer, Lincoln City Clerk
Peggy Bateman, and Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch. Assisting with the
ribbon cutting ceremony was Alice Roate with the Logan County
Tourism Bureau, Karen Castelein and Nila Smith with Lincoln Daily
News.
Schmidt was asked if she would like to speak. She
said that she was happy to see that the business was continuing on
under new ownership. She noted that Peggy’s Place is an important
part of the community and that it would have been sad to lose it.
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Alderman Eimer, it turned out was a long-time family
friend who has known Rempe and her parents since Rempe was a child.
He said he wanted to wish Rempe the best and knew that she would
give it her all.
Mayor Welch said he felt that there had been a lot of
good points made during the day. Welch said he too enjoyed many of
the unique and wonderful items that Peggy’s Place had become known
for. He recalled there was one particular pie that could be found
nowhere else in town that was a mainstay at Peggy’s Place. He said
that the circle that had been drawn by Grandma Sullivan and others
showed how we are all connected, and how one business impacts a
community. He said he wished Rempe the best and knew that she was
going to be a great addition to the business community. He added
that it was a good time to note that within the community, there are
many good partnerships that benefit local businesses. He said he was
thankful for Runge and LEAD as well as Irwin and the State Bank of
Lincoln for their continued support of local businesses and economic
development.
Hilalry Rempe, Tiffany Palmer, Amanda
Shull The last person to speak before
snipping the ribbon was Rempe. She introduced her two staff members
Amanda Shull and Tiffany Palmer and said they were a good team
working side by side daily in the kitchen. She said that without
their support she would not be able to move forward.
She introduced her parents and said that she owed a
lot to them because they pushed her hard when she was young. It was
something she resented as a child but now sees the importance of as
she takes on this new responsibility, and as she also now has
children that she is responsible for teaching good work ethics and
more.
She thanked her husband for being supportive of her business
venture, and acknowledged her grandma Sullivan with whom she has
always been close. Rempe thanked Irwin and Runge for all the effort
they put into helping her, and also called out her insurance agent
Jenny Abbott in the audience and said that Abbott had also been a
tremendous help.
With the speakers all finished, it was time for the
posed photo before the snipping of the ribbon. Rempe’s children had
been watching the proceedings but came in to be a part of the final
shot and the cutting of the ribbon.
When the photo session was finished everyone helped
with the count down of three-two-one-snip, and Rempe with the help
of her young daughter snipped the ribbon.
Afterward, everyone was invited to stay and visit with Rempe and her
crew while enjoying some made from scratch cookies and cold lemonade
and tea.
The business is located at 110 Clinton Street in
Lincoln and is open to walk in customers Monday through Friday from
7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays the shop is open from 9:30 a.m. to
10:30 a.m. for pre-order pick-ups.
[Nila Smith] |
