The Coop restaurant opens in Chapin

Chicken knickknacks on the shelf and fried chicken on the stove will often greet customers when they step into Chapin’s newest eatery.

The Coop opened its doors April 11 at 418 Superior St., the former location of Granny’s Icebox, a longtime restaurant that closed last summer.
Fried chicken is the special every Wednesday and Sunday at The Coop, said owner and operator Tracy Galloway of rural Arenzville. Catfish and buffalo fish are the Friday special.

Galloway, who has a lot of experience as a restaurateur, is happy with her new venture’s success thus far.
“Business has been surprisingly great,” she said. “The people in Chapin have really supported the restaurant.”

Galloway grew up near Chapin and knows many of her customers.

The Coop offers breakfast all day, as well as lunch and dinner.

“We have a lunch special every day,” she said. “My tenderloins are hand breaded. We also make cream pies, pudding and cinnamon rolls. I like to offer good home cooking.”

Galloway bought the building in January and spent a few months getting the place ready for The Coop.
“We totally refurbished the interior,” she said. “We painted everything, added some tables and a counter and redecorated.”

The restrooms were also updated and a new roof was installed.

“I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish opening The Coop without the help of Jody Whited,”

Galloway said. “She has been a huge asset. I have also had a lot of help from friends, family and the Chapin community.”

Galloway and her husband, Mike, owned Galloway’s Cafe in Mount Sterling from 1990 to 1995 and since then she has worked in several area restaurants.

She said after her husband died in 2007, she returned to the Arenzville area, where several people encouraged her to open a restaurant in the Triopia community.

“People say you can never come back home, but I believe you can,” Galloway said. “The Chapin community has been behind me 100 percent.”

The Coop is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

The restaurant has a separate banquet room available for parties and meetings. Both the restaurant and banquet room can seat about 62 people.