When Rebecca Batcheller began working at Sugar and Spice Catering in Parkville on a part-time basis, she fell in love with the whole business of catering. Little did she know that 15 years later she and her parents, Katrina and Mike Batcheller would purchase the business.
The family owned and operated catering business has built a booming clientele and has moved to a new location at 1443 Swift St., in North Kansas City, where they will be able to offer an event space.
Sugar and Spice Catering has been in Parkville since about 1943. Former owners, of the business, Larry and Diane Roberts began renting the building in Parkville in 1972 and later purchased it. In 2017, the Roberts decided it was time to close the doors and retire. When they told Rebecca, who was by then a full-time graphic design artist, she asked if she could purchase the business. She told them she would quit her job and come work the last year of their ownership and then figure out how she could purchase the business. The Roberts could see her passion.
“She called me one day and told me she was quitting her job and going to work with Larry, Katrina said. “I was very angry with her for about six months. I came to realize that she was happier and loved what she was doing. Her dad and I asked if we could partner with her. Her response was that she was just waiting for me to figure it out. She knew her dad had always wanted to be a chef when he was growing up, so this was a perfect thing for him.”
Larry decided to finance the Batchellers to purchase the business because he had faith in the product he was selling to them and he had faith in Rebecca due to her passion, hard work and determination. He was also happy that the operation of Sugar and Spice would be going from one family to another. Katrina said Larry literally kept their business going during the pandemic.
“Larry was amazing during the COVID years,” Katrina said. “Since he financed us to purchase the business, he moved all of our loan payments to the end of our loan and he cut our rent in half. He wanted us to continue his legacy and succeed. He had a vested interest in us succeeding, however, he did not have to do what he did. We will be forever grateful to him.”
Mike has been cooking since he was about 12 years old and has a passion for all foods. He is the head chef at the business and Rebecca is the head baker. Katrina doesn’t really like to cook. “They really don’t want me in the kitchen because I ‘accidently’ put things away wrong,” Katrina said. “Mike and I still work our ‘real’ jobs and Rebecca is our Managing Partner. She takes care of everything for us and we work evenings during the week and weekends. We hope to retire to the business soon.”
Sugar and Spice is a full-service catering company. They provide food and desserts for all occasions. They have become very well known for their BBQ brisket, garlic mashed potatoes and traditional white wedding cake. Mike makes most of their seasonings in-house, which Katrina said has only made the BBQ brisket an even bigger hit. They offer a wide variety of wedding cakes styles and they are happy to help customers design their own.
Sugar and Spice Catering has served the greater Kansas City Metro area, Platte County, and as far out as St. Joseph, Topeka, Kan., Warrensburg and Harrisonville.
Since the Batchellers bought the company they have tweaked and added a few things. “But it had been successful prior to us, so why fix something that isn’t broken,” Katrina said.
The event space will hold about 30 to 40 people and it will be rented for bridal showers, graduation parties, small company parties and other special events.
“We will be opening the space after the first of the year for the expanded walk-in bakery as well as for lunch,” Katrina said. “In addition, we will be having Pop Up Dinner events where Mike and Rebecca can collaborate on the savor-and-sweet side to make an awesome pairing. We will sell tickets for those events in order to control seating, etc.”
The new location will offer more choices for catered foods also.
“We previously owned a small restaurant in Kearney, where we served several chicken options,” Katrina said. “It was a healthier fast-food option. We will most likely use some of those recipes in the new space.”
The whole family is very excited to begin their new culinary journey in the new location. Having an event space was something Larry had always dreamed of. “He is a great supporter of our business,” Katrina said. “He is thrilled that we have been able to grow into a new building. He always wanted to expand to a location with a small event space so he is happy that we have been able to accomplish that. There is just so much more space, and it is much more conducive to the job we do.
Larry is excited to see the business grow to the point it has outgrown the old building. He is also happy that he has been chosen by the family to be the certified taste tester of the cookies and brownies. “He said he will never quit his job,” Katrina said. “We have several people ‘apply’ but he is the only one we need. He is our official taste tester. He wants to make sure that weare making things appropriately. He has used our catering company several times for events that he is involved in.”
The family is thankful that with all the challenges and risks of taking over a business, they have been fortunate to have dealt with such a kind man as Larry, who has genuinely cared, and done everything possible to help them succeed.
“We would not have survived if it wasn’t for his help,” Katrina said.
Katrina also believes that more businesses and communities would thrive if more people like Larry would offer their help and kindness. “I believe some people forget to help others and only focus on themselves. Thankfully, Larry is not that kind of person.”