Marlene Knight opened The Cottage Farm Stand & Baking Company at 6869 KY 56 in Owensboro over 3 years ago and has been growing and evolving the business ever since. With Thanksgiving quickly approaching and Christmas just around the corner, The Cottage is heavily promoting its catering and delivery services, including scratch-made casseroles and pies for any-sized gathering.
The Cottage is unique because it’s more than just a restaurant or bakery, Knight said. It’s a specialty coffee shop with several modestly-priced drinks. Knight said features multiple grab-and-go breakfast and lunch items or a cozy dine-in experience unlike anything else. Knight and her team also host several events and festivals and are regulars at the farmers’ market.
“We’re working to build up our catering division. I always say, ‘We don’t have a food truck, but we have food, and we have a truck,’” Knight said. “As long as we have 24 hours’ notice, we can accommodate corporate luncheons, gatherings, and more.”
Some of The Cottage’s specialty casseroles include broccoli, green bean, squash, breakfast, and a local favorite: sweet potato. Pies include coconut cream, pecan, peanut butter, lemon icebox, chocolate pecan, and one of her favorites: key lime.
A detailed menu is available here, but Knight warns against getting too caught up in it because she and the team offer several custom options.
“If you want a special dish for the holidays, now is the time to order online or call me,” she said. “We’re open year-round, nearly every day. We want the local community to support us, and we want to reciprocate that.”
The Cottage is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on weekends from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will remain open until 2 p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, close for the holiday, and reopen on Black Friday with breakfast, lunch, and coffee specials.
Knight said she consistently goes above and beyond to source her products and ingredients locally. This includes meat and produce, which she rarely travels further than 5 miles to purchase, and locally roasted Turkeyfoot coffee.
This Saturday, The Cottage is eager to participate in the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Saturday. That morning, shoppers can check in at Independence Bank and receive a bag of over 500 local coupons.
“We’re offering 20% off your total purchase, which is a really good deal,” Knight said. “Another thing we’ve done to get people to know us and realize we’re not far from town is to host events and festivals.”
On December 2 and 3, the team will host pictures with Santa from 12:30-3 p.m., including indoor and outdoor photo opportunities if the weather permits. Unique to The Cottage is that pets and adults can pose with Santa. The cost for photos is $10, with all proceeds benefiting My Sister’s Keeper.
“We’re just 4 miles from the bypass. We’re in the country with a country feel, but I can be on Frederica Street in 8 minutes,” Knight said. “Follow us on Facebook to see all the events and things happening here. We’re trying to do at least 1 event per week.”
Knight said they’re also eager to attend the Christmas Open House and Candy Cane Hunt at the Jim Lambert Pioneer Village at Yellow Creek Park on December 2 from 12-3 p.m. They’ll also be set up with homemade cookies and baked goods at The Bluegrass Museum and Hall of Fame from December 4-6.
Knight also rents out The Cottage and land as a small events venue, having already hosted several small weddings and showers. They offer off-site coffee bars, where they’ll venture to a business or school and set up a specialty coffee bar.
“I have an amazing team, which shows up every day to make all this possible,” Knight said. “We’re also blessed to be a part of a wonderful and supportive community. Some folks still come in daily and say this is their first time. We hope more will venture to see all we have to offer.”
The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.
Today, with a membership base of nearly 1,000, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives. It serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.
To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Shelly Nichols, Chamber Vice President, at 270-926-1860 or [email protected].
