SPOKANE, Wash. — After serving the community for over two decades, Chaps Diner and Bakery is officially changing ownership.
Long-time owner, Celeste Shaw, announced on social media that she is going to be taking a step back from the business to focus on her health.
"It's probably been one of the hardest decisions of my life I've spent every day here for the last 24 years," said Shaw.
Chaps started back in 2002, as a love note to Shaw's maternal grandmother who raised her. Shaw bought a house that replicated the one she grew up in and worked to transform it into a diner. Chaps officially opened its doors in 2006 and later expanded, adding a bakery in 2010.
In its early years, Chaps was only open on weekends and had a handful of menu items including Shaw's grandmother's cobbler.
"I think that the way that I've been able to serve here at some level to the people I think I know that she would be proud of me and how she raised me," said Shaw.
Before its expansion, the diner was only able to sit 35 at a time. Over the years that number has grown to close to 200, including indoor and outdoor seating.
Now the diner and bakery is being passed over to longtime customer-turned-owner, Sarah Shore, who first discovered Chaps with her mother 12 years ago.
"I remember when we walked in the door, we both kind of stopped and looked at each other because the whole place reminded me of her house when I was a kid. It was just so nostalgic and it just kind of became our place," said Shore.
Shaw says that she is grateful for Spokane's tenacity when it comes to supporting small businesses.
Shore says that she is humbled by the opportunity to serve the community the way that Shaw has for the last 18 years.
"I feel like she has done something so significant here with making people feel loved and safe. I just want that to keep going our community and our world needs that," said Shore.