PORT ANGELES — The buyer of Granny’s Cafe said he plans to carry on the legacy and traditions of the iconic restaurant, meaning the menu and the soft-serve ice cream are here to stay.
Dozens of adults and children eating ice cream watched on as the current owners of Granny’s Cafe and the adjoining Indian Valley Motel announced Sunday their intent to sell the landmark property to Tim Pinson of Joyce.
“We want to continue the tradition that they’ve had here,” Pinson said, adding that people have made stopping at Granny’s a tradition for their own families. “We don’t want to take anything away from what they expect to have from this restaurant. We want to maintain that tradition within the community.”
The property is currently home to Troy and Angela Tamas, their infant son Louie and Angela’s mother, Carol Roszatycki, who together own the 3-acre property and operate the two businesses.
They announced in July their intent to sell the business and listed the property with JACE Real Estate Co. for $795,000. The property at 235471 U.S. Highway 101 has nearly a dozen buildings, including private residences, the motel, sheds and the cafe.
Granny’s Cafe’s last business day for the season was Saturday. The Tamases plan to work with Pinson to show his family the ropes.
Troy Tamas and Angela Tamas holding baby Louie announce that Tim Pinson of Joyce is the new owner of Granny’s Cafe and the adjoining Indian Valley Motel on Sunday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)
Pinson, said he, his wife, Rachael, and his four kids plan to work alongside other families they know to provide the same level of service that people are used to.
Pinson said when the sale officially closes — by Dec. 1 — and he takes ownership of the business, the motel will reopen and should remain open through the winter. He did not disclose the sale price.
“The family has very graciously offered us very specific training for all motel and restaurant details so that we can maintain that menu and we can keep the food tasting and delivering just like it has been,” Pinson said. “It’s just an incredible gift from them. We’re very happy to take all the experience and advice they have.”
Pinson said he hopes to expand on the motel side of the business, possibly catering to bikers who ride along U.S. Highway 101.
Tim Pinson the new owner of Granny’s Cafe, leads a prayer at the restaurant on Sunday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News) (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)
Angela Tamas spoke on behalf of her family, giving an emotional speech to the dozens who attended the event. She dedicated much of her time to speak about her late father Louis “Terry” Roszatycki who she worked alongside at the restaurant.
He was killed last year while crossing U.S. Highway 101, shortly before she found out she was pregnant with her son Louie.
“If you would have asked my dad why he ended up in the hospitality industry, he would have said it was the only thing he was qualified to do,” she said. “What a smokescreen. Everyone who knew him knew he had so many talents.”
In his passion for the hospitality industry he became an owner of Granny’s Cafe where he grew and transformed the business, she said.
“If we were to keep the cafe, our life’s purpose would have been solely in someone’s memory,” Angela Tamas said. “That is never a penance our father would have wanted for us. It is time for new owners to continue and grow the business and contribute to its progress.”
Loren Luce, who helped his father Schuler Luce build the motel at Granny’s Cafe, tells the restaurant’s new owner that he appreciates that his family is Christian. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)
She said her family strongly feels Pinson’s family is the right choice to carry on her father’s legacy.
Pinson grew up in Austin, Texas, and has spent much of his adult life working with nonprofits. He worked with inner-city organizations that helped low-income families in Austin and pastored a church for homeless people before he began working with abused children in California.
Pinson and his family moved to the Port Angeles area in 2015 looking for something new and recently purchased the Whiskey Creek Beach Resort.
“I do want to honor the family,” Pinson said. “I know this place has a real special place in the hearts of this community and I want you to know that’s what made this place so valuable.”
“It goes far beyond business and had a lot of what a business can be in a community.”
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
