Scoop: Popular Summer Thyme’s in major expansion in Grass Valley

Summer Thyme’s Bakery & Deli —a pioneer of fresh, local food in the foothills — is vastly expanding to a new location just down the street on Colfax Avenue in Grass Valley in mid-October, our magazine has learned.

Summer Thyme’s will start serving dinner, along with breakfast and lunch, and will offer live music, local artwork and its signature farm-to-table food in a bright, artsy 4,600-square-foot space, Owner Amy Cooke confirmed. The restaurant also offers a popular catering service.

The move, which has been quietly in the works for months, represents one of the biggest restaurant expansions in the area and is sure to make Summer Thyme’s an even bigger destination for dining, relaxing or sharing a cup of coffee with friends.

It is the latest example of the boom in fresh, local food and the regional dining business — a trend we have documented in our magazine.

Summer Thyme’s expansion also is a sign of growth in the up-and-coming Colfax Avenue neighborhood in Grass Valley, dubbed “The Avenue.”

“The Avenue” neighborhood, just east of the landmark Del Oro Theatre downtown, is where you’ll find some of the area’s most popular restaurants, including Diego’s, Goomba’s and Summer Thyme’s; a popular food market, Back Porch Market; and more. (Read more about “The Avenue” in our current issue).

Summer Thyme’s will relocate at 231 Colfax Avenue — more than doubling its space to 4,600 square feet, says Amy. Parking is plentiful.

Features include an expanded dining area, new menu items, full professional kitchen, a fresh, colorful interior and expanded outdoor patio.

Siteline Architecture will be stewarding the project.

Summer Thyme’s will be hosting a blog on their website so that patrons can track the progress toward the opening.

Meanwhile, Summer Thyme’s will continue operating at its current location at 421 Colfax Avenue.

A growing number of local restaurants are expanding in the region. They include Kane’s Family Restaurant and Gold Rush Burgers & BBQ in Grass Valley, Lefty’s Grill, Harmony Ridge Market and Emily’s Catering & Cakes in Nevada City, Cafe Zorro in Loomis and Fifty Fifty Brewing Co. in Truckee, among others.

In Grass Valley, Kane’s restaurant is expanding its interior, as we wrote previously. The 900-square-foot expansion will increase seating in the bar to 22 seats. It also will create a 44-seat lounge, with a fireplace and skylights.

Gold Rush Burgers & BBQ has a new patio.

In our fall issue, our magazine profiled Amy, among others, as “real food chefs who are revitalizing dining in the foothills.

Amy has long been a proponent of using fresh, organic ingredients. Back in the ’80s, when she was chef at an inn outside Santa Fe, Amy grew her own herb garden.

Amy and her husband, Chamba, team up with local farms (such as Boxcar Farm) to supply their restaurant with fresh, local produce.

Summer Thyme’s sandwiches are piled high with all natural ingredients. Breakfasts come with local, organic eggs. Chili is made with grass-fed beef. “People used to know where their food came from, and it tasted better,” says Amy. “We believe strongly in bringing that back.”

(photo credits: Sierra FoodWineArt magazine, Lisa Redfern, Summer Thyme’s)