<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2h3S5w_0wBB1lhS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2h3S5w_0wBB1lhS00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>From left are Town &amp; Country Markets Executive Brand Development Director Susan Allen, T&amp;C CEO Ryan Ritter, and restaurateur Ethan Stowell. Photos courtesy Town &amp; Country Markets</figcaption></figure>Puget Sound grocer Town &amp; Country Markets opened its second restaurant within a store earlier this month in Bellevue, three months after the successful debut of the Field House restaurant inside T&amp;C’s Mill Creek store.The market-to-table Field House restaurant menus are crafted by local restaurateur Ethan Stowell of Ethan Stowell Restaurants using ingredients from the stores.“Our first location has been incredibly positive,” Town &amp; Country Markets CEO Ryan Ritter said in an email. “This is new territory for us, so we’re continuously assessing and refining how to enhance the guest experience, ensuring we meet and exceed expectations. Our commitment is to keep evolving and delivering something truly special for our guests.”The family owned, six-store T&amp;C chain, which traces its roots to 1957, also has a farm on Bainbridge Island where it grows produce for the markets. T&amp;C plans to open a Field House in its Poulsbo store on Nov. 1 and is exploring options for its other three markets — Bainbridge, Ballard, and Shoreline — with plans to bring a Field House to them in 2025-26, Ritter said.The Field House inside the Bellevue store, at 4989 Lakemont Blvd. SE., is about 1,200 square feet. Each Field House has about 20 to 25 T&amp;C employees supporting the operations who are cross-trained to support the store and restaurant, allowing employees to learn diverse skills and explore various opportunities within T&amp;C, he said.With the opening of its second market-to-table restaurant within a store, 425 Business emailed questions to Ritter to learn more about how the concept works. Read on for his responses. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1sKCL7_0wBB1lhS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1sKCL7_0wBB1lhS00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>Employees celebrate the opening of the Field House restaurant inside Town &amp; Country Market's Bellevue store on Lakemont Boulevard earlier this month.</figcaption></figure>Is the space carved from within the store, or added to it?Each Field House expression to date has been built within the original framework of the market. At Lakemont, Mill Creek, and Poulsbo, we have extended the outdoor seating area and created defined boundaries. These areas needed to be defined in order to serve alcohol. Are all Field Houses about the same size?Every Field House expression will likely be different, taking into consideration space and customer interests.Their menus, however, vary slightly based on the local market, correct?Yes, the menus will vary slightly, considering shoppers' interests and space in each market If Field House space is carved out of existing stores, what space is T&amp;C generally repurposing?Field House expressions are constructed from the existing kitchen and guest seating locations in each market. We encourage our guests to enjoy our T&amp;C Food Service offerings in conjunction with our new Field House market-to-table experience.What does it cost, approximately, to add a Field House to a T&amp;C Market? Is that a cost borne by T&amp;C entirely, or does Ethan Stowell share in that cost?T&amp;C fully funds the development, construction, and operating costs of Field House. Costs vary widely depending on the size of the location, reconfiguration of the existing spaces, and code compliance. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1ziFh2_0wBB1lhS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1ziFh2_0wBB1lhS00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>Some of the menu items available at Field House in Bellevue.</figcaption></figure>What’s the benefit to T&amp;C with restaurants within its stores?At T&amp;C, we're always pushing the boundaries of innovation, and with Field House, we set out to create a truly unique market-to-table dining experience. We wanted to invite guests to our table, fostering a sense of community, and delivering more than just a meal. Field House offers guests a chance to explore fresh, creative dishes they can easily recreate at home with ingredients right from our market. It's about blending great food with inspiration and convenience, all in one place. Adding Field House to our markets has proven to have a positive impact on the overall number of guests we serve on a daily/weekly basis. Does Ethan Stowell lease the space, or share a portion of Field House revenues, or what is the financial structure?We have a creative partnership with ESR (Ethan Stowell Restaurants), which has a financial consulting arrangement.What have you found most interesting or rewarding about the restaurant-within-a-store concept?We're thrilled to introduce this innovative concept to our patrons, providing them with convenient meals that are both delicious and nourishing. Whether our guests are looking for a well-deserved break from cooking, fresh inspiration for their own kitchen, or simply to treat themselves, Field House offers something exceptional for everyone at T&amp;C. We're proud to deliver an experience that blends convenience with quality, making dining both effortless and enjoyable.What makes Field Houses different from other “restaurants” within grocers?Field House stands out as a true market-to-table restaurant, where every ingredient used in our dishes is sourced directly from our own store. It's our way of welcoming guests to our dining table, offering them the same fresh, high-quality products they can purchase themselves. Unlike most restaurants within grocery stores that rely on external food-service-delivery companies, we take pride in creating a direct connection between our market and the Field House kitchen.Approximately what percentage of produce used in Field House meals comes from T&amp;C’s Bainbridge Island farm?Currently, all of the produce from our farm is sold to our guests by the produce department. As we develop seasonal menus, we will be teaming up with our farmer, Brian, to explore what can be grown specifically for Field House.That direct connection of farm to table and the associated freshness is presumably a key differentiator for T&amp;C and Field House?We take great pride in offering our shoppers and Field House guests the finest, freshest ingredients. From our market shelves to our Field House tables, we are committed to delivering exceptional quality in every bite, ensuring a dining experience that reflects our dedication to freshness and flavor.What inspired T&amp;C to launch Field Houses in all its stores?Field House is a natural extension of our brand as the eating company, offering guests the opportunity to dine at our kitchen table and be inspired. What makes it truly special is that guests can then shop our market for the very same fresh ingredients they enjoyed, bringing that experience home.</div></body>

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Town & Country Markets CEO: Market-to-Table Restaurant Concept Off to Good Start

Puget Sound grocer Town & Country Markets opened its second restaurant within a store earlier this month in Bellevue, three months after the successful debut of the Field House restaurant inside T&C’s Mill Creek store. The market-to-table Field House restaurant menus are crafted by local restaurateur Ethan Stowell of...