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Canal Winchester pizzeria facing closure finds new part-owner to stay open

Tamie Wallake and her husband have owned The Olive Branch Coffee and Pizzeria on Gender Road since 2017.

Back in July, 10TV spoke with Tamie Wallake who co-owns Olive Branch Pizzeria in Canal Winchester with her husband.

They were facing shutting their doors for good because of the impacts of COVID-19.

“We barely gotten started and I think ever since then we’re just tired,” Wallake said.

Now, Tamie said things are looking up.

“Kind of a Hail Mary, we put out there that we wouldn’t mind a partner or a buyer, someone who can help save the restaurant,” Wallake said.

Their prayers were answered.

“When we heard it was closing down, I said I wish we could salvage it in some way,” Kelly Letner said.

Kelly and her husband Adam are now part owners of the shop. They live and pastor a church in Grove City.

Letner and Wallake’s relationship goes way back and it’s how this new partnership got started.

“It’s been 30 years. [I] was actually married to her first cousin, so we were really family,” Wallake said.

“We were pregnant at the same time,” Letner said.

However, they weren’t really in contact for about 20 years.

“Then in the last six months to a year, she got connected to the Olive Branch and she’s actually a counselor and would bring her clients here. So, we’re kind of reconnected at the Olive Branch and she made a comment about a month ago saying, ‘I wish we could help you I’d love to save it,’” Wallake said.

Letner was bringing her clients to the shop while her office closed because of COVID-19, but the pandemic shut that down too.

They kept in touch and kept the conversation going about working together.

“This is a business I believe in, obviously I’m here at least two or three times a week and I knew it was very family-friendly and I love the idea that it’s faith-based and it feels like a safe place,” Letner said.

They say by fate, things work out how they’re supposed to.

“She brought her calendar to me the other day and said, ‘Tamie I’m going to warn you, I’m super busy and I get it,’” Wallake said.

They’re figuring it out together, creating new recipes, promoting more and enjoying this new journey altogether.

“You know I told Kelly the other day, here’s the thing I don’t need a lot from you, I just don’t want to feel alone my husband’s being on other things and I kind of feel like I’ve been carrying this baby by myself and that I just need some help, I need a friend, I need somebody,” Wallake said.

Wallake said their team is amazing and have been supportive through all of this.

They have advice for other business owners out there who may be struggling or may be facing some fear for the future.

“I always have this saying that this too shall pass and it pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass and we will see good days again. Find the people that believe in you and if there’s people around you that are negative walk away from them. Find people that are positive yet realist and that will speak the truth to you, and that will celebrate you in the times that things are going well but will encourage you when times are tough,” Letner said.

Letner’s first day on the job as part-owner will be Thursday.

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