Tess’ Kitchen Store: Expanding in Grass Valley

NOWHERE IS THE RESURGENCE OF downtown Grass Valley more visible than at Tess’ Kitchen Store, a longtime Mill Street merchant that will become an ultimate cooking store this spring with an innovative expansion.

Tess’ has been in continual operation since 1931, when original owner Tess Hawkins had a gift and card shop. The store has relocated on Mill Street three times, each time to a bigger location.

This expansion, under owner Steve Rosenthal, is going to be the most exciting of all. Besides the kitchen gadgetry ranging from gourmet to just plain useful— there’s going to be a “resident chef” to help with menu planning and cooking, and eventually, a cooking school and commercial kitchen. The new Tess’ also will showcase locally made products.

Some of the region’s best wine-tasting rooms are in the same block, providing a convenient opportunity for wine and food pairings, along with regular cooking demonstrations at Tess’.

Tess’ new store will open in late April in the heart of downtown. Once a JC Penny building, it is an historic and striking three-story structure. The store will occupy more than 6,200 sq. ft., compared with 2,740 sq. ft. at the previous location.

New products will include: more gourmet foods, spices, bulk olive oil and vinegar; an expanded BBQ section with wood chunks, rubs, cookware and accessories. They also will offer more tabletop serving items, such as platters, dishes, bowls and more; more electronics, including Kitchen Aid toasters and blenders, Hurom slow juicers, and VitaClay ceramic rice cookers, to name a few.

There will be barware from Reidel and,” as Steve jokes, “believe it or not, more gadgets.” Tess’ expanded store will feature a Coffee Café, where you can come in and try out a new coffee maker, get a free cup of coffee, pull up a chair and relax. The store’s new resident chef and cooking teacher is Roberta Des Bouillons, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York City.

There will be a grand opening April 21, with raffle prizes, food tastings, product demonstrations and sale items. A “support local” event on April 28 will feature local vendors, local cookbook authors and artisans.

Tess’ Kitchen Store
115 Mill Street, Grass Valley
530-273-6997, TessKitchenStore.com

Photo credit: Rachel Rosenthal