CHQ Marketplace is the brainchild of Morgan and Matthew Dinger. The two business people were recently working in the Pittsburgh market and enjoyed vacationing in Chautauqua. Morgan has a relative who stays in Chautauqua Institution and fell in love with the area, buying a vacation home in Lakewood.

After spending some time in the community, they thought a good business venture would be a wine tour bus. So on the weekends, they would come up from Pittsburgh and operate a bus, taking people on tours of wineries of Lake Erie wine country. “We take people and we teach them about wine tasting and the history of the area. We just fell in love with the area,” Morgan Dinger said.

After operating for a little while, the Dingers realized they wanted to do more. They eventually moved to Jamestown and then began setting their sites on a new location where they could highlight New York’s wine and artisanal food scene.

They learned that Reverie Creamery at 3943 Rt. 394 was up for sale. It seemed like the perfect location for a new restaurant, gift shop and more. The business has a Mayville address and is located in the town of North Harmony, across the street from Camp Chautauqua.

“We just jumped on the opportunity. We felt like this area has no restaurants or anything, but we kind of wanted to do a market also, so we just decided it’s a great opportunity to do a whole shopping plaza,” Morgan Dinger said.

The location, they believed, would draw not only local residents but visitors as well.

Matthew had been working in the hospitality industry and wanted to open their own business venture. “This has kind of been a dream of ours,” he said.

TRUFFLE HONEY EATERY

The restaurant is Truffle Honey Eatery. Michael Burrows is the executive chef. Before coming to Truffle Honey Eatery, he was the executive chef at Firebirds Wood Fire Grill and was also the chef de cuisine at Olivers, both in Erie.

CHQ Marketplace is located at 3943 Rt. 394, Mayville, in the town of North Harmony.

Burrows noted they have a wood fire grill in Truffle Honey, which is their centerpiece for cooking. “We’re very eccentric around the wood fire harsh flavors. Every single recipe in some way, shape or form touches the grill, whether it be like a vinaigrette, where the lemons for the vinaigrette get grilled, or the actual dish itself is getting grilled, something is touching the fire,” he said.

Main dishes include hand cut steaks, hand cut seafood, pizza, artsy salads, and daily specials, with all the seasonings made in house.

They have contracts with local producers for the meat and fish and will also be using local farms for vegetables.

The “truffle honey” name of the restaurant comes from their signature glaze and the honey will be coming from Panama. “It’s fresh actual truffles, which I don’t think you’ll find around here,” he said.

On the weekends will be brunch where they will serve huevos rancheros, which Burrows describes as a “breakfast burrito that’s a little over the top, dipped in egg and then grilled.” Another brunch item will be chicken and waffles.

Peapod & Juniper has opened a seasonal flower shop at CHQ Marketplace on Route 394, in the town of North Harmony. Their main store is located in Lakewood.

Even drinks are influenced by the grill. There’s a wood grill watermelon cocktail that will be available for purchase.

Morgan Dinger describes the restaurant as “fine casual” with an “elevated fair, but in a more casual environment.” All family members are welcome.

The restaurant, which will be open year round, will have its grand opening May 25, serving dinners the week before by invitation only. Hours will be Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 9 p.m.; Friday noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

TRUFFLE HONEY MARKET

With the restaurant, there is also a market connected to it. Truffle Honey Market sells New York state gourmet foods from small scale producers. Items for sale include cheeses, meats, snack foods, honey, jams. “We have almost a little bit of everything,” Morgan said.

Pictured is Michael Burrows, the executive chef of Truffle House.

The market officially opened on May 8 and is open seven days a week year round, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

ART CLOTH & CRAFT

Two years ago, sisters Lauren Edwards and Bobbi Spare opened Art Cloth & Craft at 108 E. Third St., Jamestown. The gift shop/boutique store has a had a lot of success and the two decided to open a second location at CHQ Marketplace.

“They will both look different enough to give people a reason to go to both,” explained Edwards.

Items for sale include gifts, boutique clothing, art, artisan goods, and more.

The wine tour bus will continue to operate, giving tours of Lake Erie wineries.

“What kind of sets us apart is we buy from local makers and artists from sustainable, ethically good companies,” Edwards said.

Spare added that they have “an eclectic mix of boutique clothing, unique gifts and local art.”

Morgan Dinger had been a regular customer of theirs and planted the idea of them opening a second store in North Harmony. “A lot of folks out this direction don’t go to Jamestown. Even though it seems we’re relatively close, I think we’ll have a different group of customers here,” Edwards said.

The business opened May 12, and will be open Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours will be adjusted in June.

PEAPOD & JUNIPER

Kim Carlson runs Peapod & Juniper, a seasonal flower shop at CHQ Marketplace. She also has a larger flower and gift shop in Lakewood with the same name, located at 141 Chautauqua Ave.

Their main season will run Memorial Day to Labor Day, although they are actually open on a limited basis now and envision being open into the fall, depending on weather. Summer hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week.

Peapod & Juniper are the names of her granddaughters, Penelope and Juniper.

Carlson refers to this new location as a “flower bar” and offer fresh flower arrangements, green plants and other blooming plants as the season goes on.

The business is actually in a garage. “Years ago, I wrote on a piece of paper that I wanted a full flower shop in a small space like a garage. I just wanted that garage feeling where people could come together, put flower arrangements in a garage, like I did years and years ago,” she said.

Carlson said she hopes to offer classes as well and can see people hanging around. “It’s just the feeling of people in a garage, the way I did when I was a little girl, when I would hang around at my grandpa’s garage.

OTHER VENTURES

Along with the restaurant, the restaurant market, the gift shop/boutique and the flower shop, CHQ Marketplace will also have an airbnb rental as well as be the home of the wine tour bus, which will continue to operate.

There’s four acres of land, so the plan is to expand the building and have a stage with music. There will also be art and wine classes offered as well starting in June.

A ribbon cutting will take place in July. For more information, visit chqmktpl.com.

The Truffle House restaurant will be open to the public starting May 25.

The Truffle House Market has officially opened, selling New York state gormet foods, including cheeses, salamis, jams and honey.

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