This sandwich shop’s top menu item: Make Gallatin beautiful again (and don’t skip the sweet rolls)

Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it.

Feeding a busy family doesn’t necessarily mean leaning on the convenience of frozen dinners, said Ginger Williams, detailing how her small business made the switch from freeze-dried to fresh — better serving her community with locally sourced foods.

Sweet Boutique & Sandwich Shoppe — formerly known as My Hunny’s Kitchen — recently pivoted its offerings to allow Williams more time and opportunities to dedicate herself to community initiatives and collaborate with local organizations, she said.

“We are focusing more on a local level, to be more part of our community,” Williams explained.

That means more engagement with local vendors, she said, along with baking bread in-house and partnering with local growers for direct-from-the-farm produce.

“We try to keep things as fresh and local as we can,” she emphasized, noting her commitment to the town, which sits northeast of St. Joseph, Missouri, in rural Daviess County.

Sweet Boutique & Sandwich Shoppe now offers grab-and-go soups, salads and sandwiches, all made from scratch. The soups are a standout on the menu.

“We make different soups every week,” Williams shared. “I think we have about 24 soups that we rotate out.”

The establishment also plays host to such special events as “slider days” and the occasional offering of high-demand sweet rolls. Williams plans to introduce artisan and sourdough breads, aiming to bring something unique to the community.

She’s also deeply involved in local organizations dedicated to revitalizing Gallatin. Williams participates in Missouri Main Street Connection, and the Gallatin Missouri Vendors Facebook group, which oversees events and brings in new vendors to the town.

“It’s kind of fun to watch it as we rebuild it and make it beautiful again,” she said.

Granola bars — a carryover from Ginger Williams’ My Hunny’s Kitchen days — from Sweet Boutique & Sandwich Shoppe; courtesy photo

Family connections

Williams’ passion for cooking began out West, when she lived in Utah in 2018, she explained.

“I actually started making spices out of my kitchen just for family use,” Williams recalled, noting that as demand grew, she recognized the potential to turn her hobby into a business.

“We just started making freeze-dried meals and we thought, ‘You know what, there might be a need for this,’” she said. “I raised six kids, so cooking large quantities was not a big deal.”

In 2020, following a move to Missouri to be closer to her son, Skylar, she opened up her brick-and-mortar store with him as her partner — where it’s still located on the downtown square in Gallatin.

Sweet Boutique & Sandwich Shoppe — formerly known as My Hunny’s Kitchen — on the downtown square in Gallatin, Missouri; courtesy photo

The business also remains a family endeavor even after her son’s departure from the business; daughter-in-law Maren Williams joined to succeed him as a partner. Coincidentally, Maren is related to the original owner of the building that houses the shop, further deepening the Williams’ family’s connection to the Gallatin community.

Backing Missouri businesses

The Green Hills Regional Planning Commission boosts economic development in the region by supporting local businesses, including Sweet Boutique & Sandwich Shoppe.

Through initiatives like the Show Me Jobs Project, launched in 2022, GHRPC helps strengthen businesses and expand employment opportunities. The commission also provides financial assistance through programs like its Revolving Loan Fund.

“If a small business or business owner does not qualify for a loan through a conventional bank, if they are denied through a conventional bank, we will then help and supplement that up to $25,000 through our own revolving loan fund,” said Rebecca TenHulzen, a community and economic development planner with GHRPC.

Williams sought guidance from the organization in early 2023.

“We were able to help assist Ginger with getting her in the right direction, with getting her an SBA loan,” TenHulzen said.

GHRPC is currently working with Williams on an expansion effort for a new space to increase production.

Educating her community 

To fulfill her long-term vision, Williams shares her passion for food preservation by teaching classes on the subject. She is scheduled to lead a workshop in Leavenworth, Kansas, in March 2025, focusing on unique methods of food preservation, both with and without electricity.

She also intends to explore holistic care by creating ointments and related products, with the goal of educating others in the community.

“The possibilities and potential growth around here is amazing,” Williams said.