It was right before Christmas when the loyal patrons of the DuPont Forza found out it was closing its doors. I, along with many other DuPont residents, was heartbroken. “Where am I going to go now for coffee or freshly made gelato?” I thought.
But then, a couple weeks later, a sign prominently displayed on the front door read the promising message, “Coming Soon.” Rejoice! It was in fact true. The new owners, Christine and Thomas Forrey, owners of the Forza in Lacey, swooped in and saved the café, right in the nick of time.
“When corporate Forza closed, we were approached by the bankruptcy court to make an offer,” Christine says. “[Acquiring another Forza] wasn’t on our radar. We had no idea that corporate was going bankrupt.”
Anyone that was a Forza owner could place a bid, but Christine and Thomas’ won. The two acquired the café from the bankruptcy court on December 19, just days before Christmas.
“Prices went up just a tad,” Christine explains. “But we’re comparable to other stores and cheaper than Starbucks.”
On Saturday, January 23, the café officially reopened its doors and hosted a grand opening celebration to the public with a ribbon cutting by the Lacey Chamber of Commerce and live music from local band Pumphouse. Area residents all joined to re-welcome the town’s local coffee shop once more.
My family and I attended the grand opening to see the new changes firsthand. My son enjoyed a kid’s vanilla bean gelato while my husband and I shared a slice of homemade pecan pie and a chocolate dipped macaroon. I can tell you from my experience that the slice of pie was heaven on a plate and the macaroon simply melted in my mouth.
The ambiance has changed a bit, with less memorabilia hanging on the wall, but visitors can still expect the same friendly welcome as they walk through the door. “We have all new staff and the Manager, Paula Lake, was the manager in Lacey,” Christine says.
Patrons with a sweet tooth will be delighted to know that the new and improved café is fully-stocked with homemade cakes, pies, quiches, breads, biscotti, cookies and more from Thomas’ bakery, TC Pie Company.
Each week, TC Pies features a pie of the week, including the famous carrot cake made by Christine’s mother, who at 68 years old, retired and started baking alongside Thomas. Every item will be made fresh at the Lacey location and brought to the DuPont café. The owners plan to add nine additional feet of kitchen space to provide even more tasty treats in the future.
There are also plans to convert a room in the back into a 25- to 30-person conference room. The room is currently being used as a storage closet, but construction will begin soon, giving patrons an opportunity to host meetings and events while taking advantage of the catering opportunities Forza will provide.
Forza plans to host more events and activities moving forward, including live music, Friday bunco, bingo, lunch specials, free pie nights, trivia and even a paint and sip series starting in February.
Located in DuPont, Christine and Thomas also have a strong tie to the local military community. “My dad retired from Fort Lewis and both our grandfathers served in the military,” Christine says. “We are really happy to serve the military community.” And soldiers and dependents will be happy to know that the café will still offer a 10-percent military discount on drinks.
For those that have not yet been to the location, you are in for a real treat. Head there the next time you plan to work on your laptop, or invite a friend for a nice afternoon out to enjoy a local cup of java and a homemade baked good. You won’t be disappointed.
DuPont Forza
1520 Wilmington Dr.
DuPont, WA 98327
253-301-3925
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