With the crisp cut of a red ribbon under a cloudless sky raining confetti, Freestone Collective marked its grand opening on Sept. 6 in Snoqualmie.
The collective at 8020 Railroad Avenue — owned and operated by David and Meghan Schumacher and Ally Thompson — is dedicated to supporting local small food businesses and entrepreneurs in their efforts to serve the Snoqualmie Valley.
“These people that are food entrepreneurs often don’t have access to kitchen space or their own brick and mortar building,” David Schumacher said. “So, the combo of being commissary kitchen and market enables them to not only use our kitchen equipment and storage space, but also reach the public through a market on the weekend.”
From Monday through Thursday, the collective is in “work mode,” operating solely as certified commercial kitchen space, with work stations dedicated to its renters. Come Friday and lasting through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, the front of the kitchen will be converted into a pop-up market, welcoming customers to purchase fresh breakfast and lunch and a rotating array of baked goods and products from members of the collective, ranging from dried mushrooms to dog treats.
The made-to-order breakfast and lunch menu features sandwiches, wraps, yogurt bowls and burritos, made with products from collective members and other locally sourced ingredients. A cold case beside the register contains prepared salads, fresh vegetables and hummus.
“We’ve have six food entrepreneurs that are utilizing the kitchen on a weekly basis,” Schumacher said. “And then the market has done really well, and I think it’s been well received by this local community mainly because we are offering things that weren’t here before. People have really enjoyed just having that fresh food that you can come by, grab and hit the road.”
Schumacher, who owns Arete Coffee Bar in North Bend with his wife, Meghan, said the idea for the collective was born out of necessity.
“While sourcing items for their cafe, they would occasionally be asked by vendors if they knew of any kitchen space that was available to rent in the area,” according to the collective’s website. “They would try to give them ideas on businesses with commercial kitchens to reach out to and deeply desired to help out and support them in finding a space.”
Thompson, now a co-owner of Freestone Collective, was one of those vendors advocating for a designated commercial space in the Valley. She began supplying Arete with granola from her business, Alpine Baked Goods, in 2022, but was driving from the Valley to Woodinville to use commercial kitchen space.
In 2023, Thompson and the Schumachers visited the 8020 Snoqualmie Avenue location, and Freestone Collective was formed.
“We’ve been open as a commissary kitchen since January, and then we opened the market in April,” Schumacher said. “From the beginning, I think the biggest thing for me is that it starts with great customer service. I want people to feel welcome when they come in. Secondly, I want people to feel like what they’re getting is fresh and carefully crafted.”
In addition to its pop-up market, the collective just kicked off a “family meal” prepared by Molly Atkins, the on-site chef, “who we stole from the Four Seasons in Seattle,” Schumacher said.
With an ever-changing menu, the prepared meal for two costs $30 to $40 and is available for pre-order on Freestone’s website each week. It can be picked up on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, heated up, and enjoyed.
The collective’s second-story converted office space will host community events listed on its website, as well as information for potential renters.
“Whether you’re in need of a commercial kitchen space or just looking to enjoy some delicious local fare, Freestone Collective is the place to be,” the SnoValley Chamber of Commerce wrote. “We are excited to support them in their mission to bring the Snoqualmie Valley community together.”
Snoqualmie Mayor Katherine Ross (left) and SnoValley Chamber of Commerce CEO Kelly Coughlin (right) attended the ribbon cutting along with the three owners David and Meghan Schumacher and Ally Thompson (middle). Photo by Mallory Kruml/Valley Record
A portion of the products that will be available at the pop-up market. Photo by Mallory Kruml/Valley Record
