Food and family: These mother-owned businesses add love and flavor to York County

It’s a cherished holiday observed in countries across the world, and this year we’re paying homage to the mothers in York who fearlessly ventured into the world of entrepreneurship.

The people of York County love to eat, but did you know that many of the beloved restaurants you dine at are female owned? More particularly, mother owned.

From managing households to businesses, nurturing their children as well as their hopes and dreams, a work life balance is anything but easy - but it can be possible. And these mothers are proving that the two can beautifully coexist.

Shaye Merryman: Moonlight Cafe

After working as a waitress for five years at Moonlight Café in Dover, Shaye Merryman and her husband Tyler received an offer to take over the business two years ago.

She was filled with the excitement, but the timing just wasn’t right.

Merryman was balancing dental school while her son Landon, who was 2 years old at the time, was sick, needing a tracheotomy procedure. While overcoming her son’s medical procedure and finishing one year of school, Merryman and her husband decided they were ready to run the restaurant and took over in May of last year.

But lately, life has been a balancing act for 25-year-old Merryman as she finds time for her son, school and her new business.

“My son has special needs, so he has had multiple surgeries in the past few years, and we fly out to Cincinnati pretty often for appointments and surgeries,” Merryman said.

In February of this year, the Merryman family suffered a fire in their home, and one week later their basement flooded.

"When the fire first happened, they took away all Landon's toys and clothes because of the smoke damage," Merryman said.

That's when the community stepped in to support her. Family members, Merryman's classmates and members of the therapy her son attends donated toys, clothes and gift cards to her family.

Even with hurdles life throws her way, Merryman radiates happiness and positivity.

“I go by the one quote by Dolly Parton: In order to get to the rainbow, you must beable to deal with the rain.” Merryman added, “The stress is only temporary, whether it’s school or the restaurant.”

She goes by this philosophy to set an example for her son and his future.

“Some days are crazy, but he (Landon) sees what I’m doing, and in the future, he’ll remember how hard his mom and dad worked, and it’ll teach him not to give up.”

Even with their busy schedules, the Merryman family are at the restaurant every day, including Landon, who calls Moonlight Cafe his second home.

Debora Markle: Jim and Nena's on West Philadelphia Street

Debora Markle never expected to own a business, but 30 years ago she found herself taking over one of the locations of local fan-favorite pizza shop, Jim and Nena’s.

Markle married into the Jim and Nena family in 1993, and along with her husband at the time, the two were given the opportunity to take over the West Philadelphia Street location, which originally opened in 1958, though there are nine other locations spread across York County.

With the bright red booths, checkerboard floor tiles, candy machines and 1950s Coca-Cola memorabilia, walking into the pizza shop makes you feel like you've gone back in time.

That was always the goal for Markle, who has been running the shop for 30 years.

Raising three kids while running a pizza shop was not easy, and while she would have loved to spend more time with them, Markle tried to include the kids in her business.

“Trying to balance everything, it’s tough, but looking back – it can be done,” Markle said.

When her two sons and one daughter were old enough, Markle said it would really help, not just with the business but to be able to spend time with them.

“It was nice because I go to see them a lot, and this job taught them a lot about manners, having good work ethic, and how to deal with people. It’s not difficult work, but it takes a lot of time, and you’re here a lot.”

Now that her kids are in their own careers and have moved away from home, Markle said she feels like a mom sometimes to her employees.

"We have a bunch of kids that work here, and they would call me mama sometimes, and now they're all calling me that," she said with a laugh.

As a parent, Markle said juggling work with kids was not always easy, but they made it work. After 30 years of hard work, Markle said she is looking to retire soon and spend much-needed time with her grandchildren.

"In this community, I feel like we're a staple here and fixture in the city and continue to be," Markle said.

Lauren Days: Skillet2Plate Soul Bistro

Nurse by morning, restaurant owner by evening, and event manager in between the cracks of time, Lauren Days juggles her work schedule while being a mom to six.

Growing up in West Philadelphia, Days grew up in a big, close-knit family where food and family events were a big part of her life.

Days relocated to York in 2013 with her husband Terrence and their 16-year-old son, Zaire, where the family wanted a new start.

Days has worked as nurse since 2010, starting out in hospitals and now in pediatric home care. As time went on, she and her husband found themselves wanting to try something new, which led to the pair opening two businesses amid the pandemic.

In February 2020, three weeks before the pandemic hit, the Days family opened Skillet2Plate Soul Bistro, and after the shutdown, it was all hands on deck.

She decided to make bring in five children who were old enough to work at the time, and in between managing school, they would assist in managing restaurant duties.

"We wouldn't have made it without them, that's how we made it through Covid," Days said.

A year later, Days opened Sara Ellen Event Venu, a tribute to her grandmother, with whom Days and her family would spend hours with during her childhood. "It was a tradition I wanted to continue for my family and also to provide the community with a space where they can make memories with their families as well."

Most days, she finds herself running across town to manage her work as well as her family commitments such as her son's sporting events.

"I like to be very hands-on, especially when it comes to sports, because I love cheering him on, and not to be able to be so present is a struggle, but the sacrifices now will pay off in the future."

Zaire helps his parents at both businesses, working as a dishwasher at the restaurant and managing tasks at the event space, and even bringing along his school friends to help work, allowing them to spend time together.

"If I'm free, I have no problem with helping, sometimes it gets hectic, but other times it's good," Zaire said.

"We love for him (Zaire) to help out at the businesses, but we also want to give him his freedom as well, to go out and get to be with his friends," Days said.

Toni Calderone: Tutoni’s, Aviano’s Trattoria, The Cantina and more

Growing up in the restaurant industry, 3-year-old Toni Calderone would visit her grandparent’s pizzeria, Alberto’s on Queen Street, sitting on her dad’s shoulders, welcoming customers as they walked through the door.

“I have this picture where I’m squeezing his neck so hard, and he’s showing everyone, going 'that’s my daughter,' and that memory resonated with me because it made me feel like I was part of something bigger,” Calderone said.

Photos of her family restaurant history can be seen in her restaurant, Aviano’s Trattoria, named after her 10-year-old son, on South Duke Street.

A born go-getter, with an entrepreneurial spirit, Calderone wanted to follow in the footsteps of her grandparents and parents, creating a restaurant legacy of her own to one day pass down to her children. Though she was surrounded by cooks, she herself never learned how to cook, and instead preferred to work on learning to build and grow a business.

After working in corporate America and learning the ins and outs of operating a business, Calderone opened her first restaurant in 2014: Tutoni’s on North George Street.

Calderone has since opened over 10 restaurants and food-related businesses, as well as operating O.N.E. Hospitality Group.

“Generational businesses are a lost thing in our small communities, so I’m doing my part to keep it going,” Calderone said.

Her oldest son Aviano has already taken interest in the restaurant business, and Calderone said she does her best to educate her son on humility and the goal of serving the community.

“I am a mother first and a CEO second, so it’s important to teach my kids the ups and downs and the very real, service role of owning a restaurant.”

Calderone added being part of a family that owns multiple restaurants is challenging as a kid.

“I was always in the restaurants but missed out being with my parents. Now I want to work, but also be with my kids as much as I can – it’s a balance.”

While she checks on the restaurants, puts out fires or works a chaotic dinner service, Calderone said she has an army behind her, running to the rescue whether it’s holding one of her babies for a minute, or changing a diaper. “People ask me how do I do it? That’s how. People who believe the bigger picture, and they jump in and help whenever.”

More Mother-Owned Businesses

While seeking out the mother-owned business York has to offer on social media, the community gave an overwhelming number of suggestions, so we made a list:

• Jessica Ayla - Revival Social Club

• Alexis Charde - Touch of Soul

• Laura Small - Safe and Sweet

• Denise Gonzalez - She Got Sweets LLC

• Natasha Estelle - ESTELLE’s VIP

• Meredith Atiyeh - SelfMaid

• Justine Maritza - Caraballo Sisters

• Jennifer Bankert - Cupcakes by Jenn

• Randi Crotsley - The Void & Veil

• Kal Yerger - Kal's Cakes & Bakes

• Haley Lake- Haley’s Chic Designs

• Victoria Kageni-Woodard - Gusa by Victoria

• Neama William - Neama’s Egyptian Foods

• Jessica Weikert - Revolt Style Studio

• Jai Delp - Essan Thai Restaurant

• Jenna Marshall - Boho-Bella and Artemis Vintage

• Crystal Caron - The Sugar Rose Bake Shop

• Falesha Martin - Extreme Beauty Supply

• Tia Long - Stellar Fitness, LLC

• Sarah Cahill - Gather 256

• Julie Cicero - Julie Marie Paints

• Alexandria Keener Hammond - My Girlfriend's Wardrobe

• Joedian Douglas - Liebe Krafted Designs

• Denise Anderson - Pardon My French

• Kara Oldenburg-Gonzales, Carol Oldenburg, and Cheryl Migliarini - OMG Studios

• Denise Hart - Pilates Center of York

• Karen Sawyer - The Party Palooza, The Balloon Boutique, and Changing Faces 4 Fun

• Cresha Drayden- Our Sons and Daughters

• Renene - Global Cafe

• Russalina Nolden - Russy's Sweet Treats

• Lori V - Lori V's Pizza

Lena Tzivekis is a Central pa reporter. Did we miss any mother-owned businesses? Email her at etzivekis@gannett.com, or message her on Twitter at @tzivekis

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York County showcases mother-owned businesses for mother's day