Small Business Success

Restaurant

Est. 2004

Italian Family Classics

Gelato Bar

Home Decor Shop

Spokane, Wash.

4516 S. Regal St.

It’s not just advice Robbie Ferrante gives. It’s how she and her husband have run their thriving south Spokane restaurant, Ferrante’s Marketplace Cafe, over the past 19 years. Every item, from the calzones, gelato, and wine to even Dandles Candles, has one thing in common: The Ferrante family’s personal stamp of approval.

Quality control is key, in and out of the kitchen.

The unique cafe offers Italian favorites from hand-tossed pizza to a Ferrante’s classic calzone and a small gift shop. Diners wander the marketplace section checking out jewelry, home accessories, and their best-selling candles. It might seem like an unusual pairing for a cafe, but it’s a combination that works.

Family, Food, and the Ferrante’s Italian Dream

“What sets us apart is that we are not a traditional restaurant or retail store. We’re both,” explained Robbie, who opened Ferrante’s in 2004 with her husband, Tony, by combining their interests into a one-of-a-kind dining experience. 

It’s a vision that came together nearly 30 years ago.

“We had our wedding reception catered,” Robbie explained about her 1995 wedding. “We loved the whole process, the hosting, building the menu, and it got us thinking.”

Food was a shared passion from the start. Both Tony and Robbie come from families that are passionate about food. 

However, it took almost 10 years to turn their dream into a reality. The Ferrantes had young kids. Tony worked in sales. Robbie made and sold jewelry, and together they spent a decade evolving their dream in Ferrante’s Marketplace Cafe.

 “We essentially turned our inherited passion for food, connection, and lifestyle accessories into a business,” said Robbie about the 2004 opening of Ferrante’s. 

For the food, the Ferrantes turned to what they knew best: family. To this day, the menu features family recipes that have been passed down for generations.

“The first night we opened we invited everybody we knew, the Italian family and our friends,” said Robbie.

Now, nearly 20 years later, Ferrante’s Marketplace Cafe is a neighborhood hangout with a gelato bar, grab-and-go dinner options, and a new app to make online ordering easier. 

Adding Local Brands to Ferrante’s Marketplace

For her, quality is as important in the marketplace as it is in the kitchen. 

Robbie’s eye for quality and for what Spokane customers want is second to none. Every marketplace product is handpicked by Robbie, from the tiny Kris Nations earrings, Scout bracelets, Graza olive oil, Geometry towels, and to local products like Wild June lip balms.

The marketplace started by carrying home accessories, which eventually led to adding another small, local brand.

Dandles Candles creator Dana Haynes visited Ferrante’s as Robbie was growing the retail space, and her candles were the right fit.

“Dandles has the pro look and smell. The price is just right, and people love supporting local. It’s a win–win,” added Robbie. “We have both evolved with current community needs and decor trends.”

Dandles Candles Become a Marketplace Must-Have

Candles don’t stay on the shelves long at Ferrante’s Marketplace Cafe. The restaurant now has some customers who swing by just to shop for gifts.

“We never have candles in the back that we can’t sell, especially Dandles,” said Robbie, who has come to know which high-quality scents her customers want.

Need a recommendation? Ask Robbie.

“I love the Red Currant Bitters scent from Dandles. It smells so good and is a best-seller along with the rustic White Chippy Candle.”

Customers can also shop a variety of smaller Dandles Candles at Ferrante’s. It’s a popular choice for customers grabbing a quick gift to pair with a bottle of wine or jewelry.

“If it burns, it sells.”

That’s advice a sales representative once gave Robbie that she gladly shares with anyone starting a small shop. But you’ll need more than that nugget to run a successful restaurant as the Ferrantes do.

Building a Community Backbone with Great Hires

Maintaining quality is key for Ferrante’s team. Every dish is made to order with fresh ingredients. And every team member is handpicked by Tony.

“Good employees are crucial,” explained Robbie. “You’ve got to do everything you can to keep great team members because you can’t run a restaurant with two people.”

It’s been a family affair over the years. The Ferrantes have employed their kids, nieces, and nephews. Even non–family members who work at Ferrante’s eventually became extended members of this big Italian family. 

“It’s just a good community backbone. Our ex-employees are now customers, and so are their families. Your business grows with good-quality staff,” said Robbie.

However, it’s not just about staffing the kitchen now. 

A New Era at Ferrante’s Marketplace Cafe

The Ferrantes focus on building for the future, forging lasting relationships, and seeing the staff grow. It’s a ripple effect that’s actually changing how Ferrante’s operates behind the scenes. 

“Our manager has been with us since high school, and that was 18 years ago. Now he’s recently become a part owner in the restaurant,” said Robbie, as the Ferrantes formally introduced Nick Rapier as a co-owner in June 2023 on Instagram.

It’s part of Ferrante’s next phase. 

“It would be nice to have a day off here and there,” laughed Robbie, although she admitted the couple isn’t planning to retire anytime soon. 

Being present is an important part of running any small business. It’s become a natural part of day-to-day life. You’ll find Tony and Robbie in the kitchen, in the marketplace, and even scooping gelato. It doesn’t go unnoticed by Ferrante’s regulars, and it’s often mentioned in online reviews.

“I loved seeing what I thought was the owners, husband and wife working together,” wrote one Google reviewer. “Seeing owners in their businesses is super important.”

It’s all part of building a quality process and part of what keeps customers coming back to this Spokane staple. 

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