Manna Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting. ‘Food Worth Walking About’
by Tina Cole-Mullins, Photos by DigitalCrumbs Photography and Jason Allen
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new Manna, Monday, Oct. 4. The event, sponsored by the Stockbridge Area Chamber of Commerce, officially recognized the village’s latest new business and welcomed owners Naomi and Kevin Carson.
In a show of support, family and friends rallied for the 7 a.m. event, joining with local business owners and builders, contractors and the architect, and members of the Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority, the Chamber, and the Village Council to wish Manna success.
“We appreciate community support,” owner Naomi Carson said, “and we’re looking forward to reopening next spring.”
The seasonal shop, situated along the trailhead of the newly restored Mike Levine Lakeland Trails State Park at S. Center St. and S. Clinton St., plans to close after Halloween and reopen next spring.
The word Manna refers to a Biblical term for a substance miraculously supplied as food and spiritual nourishment.
In addition to local traffic, Manna serves hikers, bikers and horseback riders along the trail, offering a popular staging and ride-up area a few steps from Manna’s front door. The business is disabilities friendly.
Naomi and husband Kevin worked closely with the village and numerous local contractors over the past two years to restore the historical block house, breathing new life not only into the community, but also into a building that in the 1950s was home to this reporter’s father and family.
The Chamber event was a soft-opening for the business which currently hosts a menu of individual sandwiches and Panini’s for $6. “The Lunchbox” includes a sandwich, chips, pickle and choice of a side dish of homemade potato salad, baked beans, cheddar macaroni, salad or apple sauce for $8. Blackberry lemonade has fast become a favorite along with a selection of MSU Creamery ice cream.
Manna’s hours of operation run 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Halloween of this year.
Naomi Carson smiling as she serves customers.
