Cafe owner hiring new team for third location opening in Trumbull County
Following requests from customers in Trumbull County and the surrounding area, the third Sweet Melissa’s Good Eats cafe is set to open in the fall in the Giant Eagle Plaza in Howland Township.
It’ll be the largest cafe so far owned by Melissa Poland, who’s passionate about her customers and serving high-quality, nutritious salads and wraps.
Sweet Melissa’s first opened eight years ago in Boardman then expanded to Columbiana almost four years ago.
“When I first opened, everybody told me I wasn’t going to make it,” Poland said. “I thought, ‘I’m going to try it, because if I don’t try it, I’ll probably end up regretting it. People have gravitated towards the idea; I think it’s because I have stayed true to what I started with, which was always having a consistent product and making sure that it was a quality product that I was selling.”
She said she was encouraged to receive overwhelmingly positive feedback from Trumbull County businesses and residents.
“I probably knew when I opened Columbiana that Howland was on the horizon,” she said. “We found a perfect spot, right across from the high school and the fire station. It has taken a long time to get where we need right now, but I know Trumbull County is going to love it. I feel like I made the right decision.”
Poland is looking to hire more team members for the Sweet Melissa’s in Trumbull County, expected to open around early October with a conference room inside that patrons will be able to rent out.
“This is the first time that I got involved in the actual construction and architecture end. There are a lot of hoops you have to jump through and so many moving parts to opening a space I was not aware of,” she said. “I did learn a lot and we kept our eyes on the prize.”
The Sweet Melissa’s team uses high-quality ingredients and make their own vinaigrettes, sauces, dips and salads in-house.
“I worked very closely with local purveyors in the area to supply and make sure that the quality of the product is always there,” Poland said. “It’s as close to homemade as you can get. We’re just doing all the work for you. I get fresh produce five days a week coming to my back door and we bake chicken that comes three times a week.”
Visit Sweet Melissa’s from 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 6810 Market St. in Boardman, or from 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 85 Town Center Ave. in Columbiana.
“I run the business with a lot of empathy. I always tell my people, put yourself in that person’s shoes,” she said. “People are coming in here to eat so, and there’s so many different really good places in this area to choose to eat. Once you make it up to the counter and you place your order, you’re not going to be waiting for your order too long.”
