Nearly 4 decades later, son helps buy back eatery his mother once owned
LAUREL PARK - A café Kathie Hunter opened nearly 40 years ago and ran for 18 years before selling it in 2003 is now once again back in the family.
Hunter's son, Ben Rieger, recently moved back to the Hendersonville area from Winston-Salem, and although he was already in the real estate business, he wanted to open his own café. In 2020, Rieger and his mom were on the verge of signing a lease when the coronavirus pandemic hit, Hunter said.
"When the dust cleared a couple years later, I just happened to walk back into my old café, Tooley's Café, to grab a bite to eat and say hi to the owner, Kim. Kim then told me she was selling it," Hunter said.
Hunter called the encounter a blessing, and she and her son, who is now 43, seized the opportunity.
"Mom and I always knew we’d open a restaurant together but never dreamed it would be the restaurant I grew up in," Rieger said.
The origin of the name
When she first opened the little café at the Laurel Park Shopping Center, 1729 Brevard Road, with the help of her parents in 1985, Hunter was a single mother, she said.
"In 1985 my parents, Alvin and Delores Sprouse, helped me open Tooley's Café. They were there from the equipment purchases, to the forming of the menu," she said.
"We spent many hours on the menu and the name of the shop. Finally one evening, we started talking about the small town they raised me and my brother and sister in and remembering our old friend, Bradford Tooley, and wham — the name of the shop was born."
She said Pete Green was instrumental in helping with the Western décor, which they still use today. They also brought back another key person, who was and now still is essential to the kitchen.
"Back then, my No. 1 employee, friend, and the best ever baker was Carol Thompson. In December 2022, a few months before we officially opened, Ben and I were able to call her back to the shop," Hunter said. "Today she is Ben's right hand and a super manager."
Tooley's started serving customers in 1985 with the motto "Great homemade food daily, with excellent service."
"The restaurant still has the same motto," Hunter said.
She said with her former baker helping her and her son once again with the family business, the motto will always stay the same.
"I have been with Ben and Carol from the beginning, loving every moment. Food is in my blood," Hunter said.
A change in roles
Hunter is happy to see her son taking over the role of business owner and restaurant manager, a role she knows plenty about. Now, she's enjoying the new role she has as a business partner, she said.
"Today I come to the shop a couple days a week, just for fun and seeing old friends and great customers," she said.
Rieger has a message on the back of Tooley's menu to his customers about how the restaurant is now back in the family.
More: Answer Man: When will park, playground next to Laurel Park Town Hall open?
More: Board of Adjustment approves special-use permit for Spirit Cove project in Hendersonville
"In 2023, with the help of his beautiful wife, Ashley, and his loving parents, Kathie and Hal Hunter, (Rieger) brought Tooley's Cafe back to the family," the message says. "The dream comes full circle, and we thank you for being part of that dream."
She said the family business has come full circle, with her son and wife, Ashley, running the café, while also raising their son, Pierson.
"We were excited to open the doors and start serving old and new customers. We have been blessed with a vibrant business. Seeing old and familiar customers are such a pleasure," Hunter said.
Tooley's has a variety of sandwiches, salads and dessert items and serves breakfast and lunch. It is currently open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, but those hours might be extended soon.
"We will likely extend the hours until 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, as soon as we are able to finish hiring a couple of evening positions," Hunter said.
Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Back in the family: Son helps buy back eatery once owned by his mom
