Feel Good Food Stop in Newtown Hopes to Offer Welcoming and Nourishing Place to Eat

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Photo: Provided by Feel Good Food Stop

Feel Good Food Stop opened in the spring of 2023 in Newtown

This story is featured in CityBeat's Nov. 15 print edition.

A new restaurant, Feel Good Food Stop, opened in Newtown in the spring of this year, offering nourishing breakfast and lunch dishes alongside some familiar favorite sweets from Fork and Pie Bakery. Melissa and Eric Chan teamed up with Fork and Pie Bakery owner Stevie Rufener to open this new, fresh concept in the bakery's former retail location. "It was created out of a partnership of the existing bakery," explains owner Melissa of how Feel Good Food Stop came to be. 

Working in the food industry is familiar to Melissa, who says she started when she was 12 years old. Having grown up in Milford, she attended the Ohio State University and graduated with a degree in hospitality management. She stayed in Columbus for 12 years after graduating until a family emergency brought her back to Cincinnati, where she met her husband. In December of 2022, the opportunity to form a partnership with Fork and Pie Bakery and open a new restaurant concept came about, and she jumped on it, with Feel Good Food Stop opening on April 3, 2023. 

From the get-go, Melissa wanted to ensure the location provided wholesome food options and a cozy, positive and inviting atmosphere. To Melissa, feeling good is an experience she strives to provide through her physical location and food. "It's about the food, for sure, but it's also the vibe, the energy," she said. When you walk in, a sign says "Come as You Are," whether that be human or canine. "We're dog-friendly," said Melissa. "Why? Because dogs make you feel good." 

At Feel Good Food Stop, you'll find a variety of breads, baked goods and pastries, all provided by Fork and Pie Bakery, including quiches, tarts and gluten-free breads. Melissa explained that Rufener's son has a gluten intolerance, so she's become skilled and well-known for baking up delicious breads and sweets most people wouldn't even guess are gluten-free. "We have really come into being a provider of gluten-free items, and I'm really promoting that," said Melissa. 

The restaurant also offers a full breakfast and lunch menu curated by Melissa, with everything from breakfast quesadillas and avocado toast to açaí bowls and chicken and biscuits. "Through the food, we want to nourish the mind, body and spirit," explains Melissa. 

Melissa strives to use organic and seasonal ingredients, working closely with local farmers. Additionally, she grows a variety of herbs, including rosemary, lemongrass and basil, as well as peppers and tomatoes in her on-site garden. These homegrown ingredients are used in her recipes, including the housemade pesto and salsa. During the spring and summer, she sourced most of the berries from her best friend's farm outside of Columbus, Little Thyme Farms, which also provides lettuce, onions and garlic for the restaurant. 

While the menu will keep some core dishes, Melissa plans to adjust some options, like salads, baked goods and wraps, to feature more seasonal produce and goods. "We're just kind of going with the seasons," she said. 

Running the restaurant is a family affair, Melissa explains. "My kids help; they were picking tomatoes and herbs yesterday," she said. "My husband does the landscaping, and my dad walks around to local businesses." Since it's a small, family-run business, many items on the menu are first come, first serve, often with cinnamon rolls flying off the shelves. "For a business owner, to see the disappointment on someone's face when we're out of cinnamon rolls — it's hard," says Melissa, who tries her hardest to stock up but often runs out of this sweet favorite due to such high demand. 

Since opening in the spring, Melissa has enjoyed meeting the customers, many of whom have already become regulars. She said it's been a positive experience to partner with Fork and Pie Bakery and provide the neighborhood with a fun and positive place to dine. "It has been delightful for the neighborhood and community," she said. "They didn't have anything that was your typical breakfast in that capacity, and we've been able to offer it. It's just been this wave that we're riding right now." 

The location has indoor and outdoor seating to eat at the restaurant and also offers carryout service. To keep with Melissa's mission of creating a positive experience, she made sure there were puzzles and games available to help keep kids occupied while their parents ordered. 

With advance notice, they also offer catering options, including breakfast charcuterie boards that can be made with pancakes, waffles or french toast and all the fixings. Melissa says they can also include housemade deviled eggs and breakfast meats. 

"Stop in, eat well, feel good" is the restaurant's tagline that Melissa tries to stay true to in everything they do. "Exceptional service is one of the things I talk to the staff about," she said. "It's the little things, but it's all those little things added together that create the environment and experience." 

Feel Good Food Stop, 6836 Main St., Newtown. Info: feelgoodfoodstop.com.