Ryan McMaster/Staff Writer | Posted: Tuesday, October 9, 2007 12:00 am
Visitors are greeted with a relaxing, calming atmosphere, a plethora of teas, cucumber sandwiches, old-fashioned table settings and the distinct feel of a traditional British tea room.
Penelope/s Tea & Gifts recently changed owners, but the experience customers have come to expect has largely remained intact.
Penelope/s Tea & Gifts, 105 W. Ocean Ave., has been a part of historic downtown for six or seven years and takes the namesake of the original owner and longtime Lompoc resident, Pennie Vandenbroek.
In April, Vandenbroek decided she would retire and return to Oklahoma, where most of her family lives. Her husband is also retiring from teaching at UC Santa Barbara.
The new owners, Bill and Shelley McCabe, are lifelong Lompoc residents. Shelley McCabe/s grandmother married into the historic Bodger family of Lompoc, who owned Bodger/s Seed Company. She has also enjoyed coming to the tea room as a customer.
“I loved coming in here,C McCabe said. “It/s a nice, restful place to relax. It/s like walking into another world.C
Previously, McCabe was the principal at Pacific Christian School in Santa Maria, a job she held for nearly 20 years. She decided she wanted to try something new, then heard from Vandenbroek that she might sell the business.
As far as she knows, McCabe said, there is not another tea room in Santa Barbara County, and though working as a small business owner is still new to her, she brings a passion and great knowledge of tea to its drinkers.
“I love tea and I love to cook sandwiches,C she said. “I/ve had tea parties with my girls, so I/ve done it before, but never just on as large a scale.C She added that true tea does not come in bags.
McCabe, much to the joy of customers, plans to make few changes. She hopes to continue to develop her strong, loyal customer base and said she would like to have as much of a following as Southside Coffee.
“We are still going to have basic British fare and lunches,C McCabe said. She said that while the menu will remain basically the same, she will make occasional changes or introduce various items during the year, just as Vandenbroek did. The classic cucumber sandwich certainly will remain, she said.
The owner is also looking to draw in a different crowd that Penelope/s Tea & Gifts does not see as often 7 men.
“Some of the meals are more hearty and are more men food,C she said. “That/s one of the challenging things 7 making more men come in here and feel more comfortable.C She added with a laugh that some men are concerned about keeping their pinkies up when they drink tea and having the proper etiquette, which she does not strictly enforce.
Other ideas for the business include informative “Tea 101C classes and birthday parties for children. These could be specially arranged by schedule so as not to interfere with other customers. The business will continue to host baby showers and wedding showers. The beer and wine selection will also be continued, though McCabe/s husband, Bill, who helps out in the kitchen, hopes to broaden it.
McCabe discussed the significance of afternoon meals in Europe and that taking meals are much more important in French and Italian cultures.
“It/s a good time to get some protein and make your brain function a little better,C she said.
Vandenbroek, in addition to leaving most of her staff behind, helped the new owner learn the ropes in the past three months for a smoother transition.
“I couldn/t imagine opening my own business and making it work,C McCabe said. “It/s serendipity that I was able to open this shop. It/s a dream to me; it/s not quite reality yet. My family has always wanted a bed and breakfast.C
She plans to offer a grand opening following the escrow process, hopefully in mid-November.
Ryan McMaster can be reached at 737-1057 or rmcmaster@lompocrecord.com.
October 9, 2007