Local Baker To Bring Crunch Into Cafe

Growing up, Rhea Forte spent hours in her aunt’s Chicago kitchen baking up a storm with her late brother Marty.

The two would build memories with their aunt while cooking, then munch on Aunt Marge’s specialty treat: potato chip cookies.

And after years of working and raising three girls as a single mother, Forte is bringing those cookies – and much more – to Newark.

The 47-year-old Union City resident is hoping to rebuild that family kitchen vibe inside of a soon-to-open café in the Newark Professional Building across from that will be known as Grandma Rhea’s.

“What I’m trying to create here really is that wow factor,” said Forte, who said she has wanted to own the place since she frequented it with her children when it was an Italian restaurant in the early 1990s.

Forte’s menu for baked goods features various types of potato chip cookies, from double chocolate chip to English toffee. She also specializes in sugar-free, vegan and gluten fee cookies.

Potato chip cookies are unique and are made with a recipe that includes crushed potato chips. The recipe keeps the cookies crunchy and the taste is said to be salty and sweet, according to a recipe forum on SouthernLiving.com.

But Forte hopes to expand her café to feature other items on the menu, including Paninis and Mediterranean dishes, along with an outdoor patio and live entertainment. Forte added an aim of hers is to create a family-friendly environment.

“Life is too short. You have to spend time with the people you love and the people you care about,” Forte said.

Creating family time is something that has always been important for Forte who raised her three daughters on her own since she separating from her husband in 1991. And baking was always a special treat she for her relatives, including her two grandchildren.

Over the years, she’s taken various job roles to support her family – from being a licensed cosmetologist at a local salon to a project manager for Wyndham Worldwide, Trendwest Resorts, which is now known as WorldMark by Wyndham.

Forte first thought of opening up her own bakery and café in 2009, after the economic downturn began forcing Wyndham to make cuts. She brings more than 30 years of experience in restaurant management and sales roles to her new business venture.

The journey has been a challenging one. She first tried opening in Union City, but the location she hoped to lease didn’t allow for the full kitchen she needed, so she moved on and found a location in Newark.

And since signing a lease in the summer of 2011, a "coming soon" sign has remained displayed in front of the eatery located on the corner of 3900 Newpark Mall while contractors continue to ensure that Grandma Rhea’s is compliant with ADA standards and city regulations before opening.

The months of finding the perfect location for her café has not stopped Forte from making her dream of opening her own bakery a reality or prevented her from moving cookies in and out of the oven.

Forte currently takes smaller orders and continues to bake out of a private kitchen until the eatery opens. She said her goal is for the restaurant to open in February.

Shining a big bright smile while talking about her spiritual beliefs, it is obvious that Forte is an optimist. She credits her Christian faith for her determination to work, raise her children, care for her grandchildren and strive toward her dreams.

“I’ve just been blessed and I’m very thankful. It’s not easy,” Forte said. “It took a lot of prayer and a lot of patience.”

To learn more about Grandma Rhea’s Gourmet Potato Chip Cookies, visit http://grandmarheas.com.