Gramma Debbie's Kitchen
Tosha Gannaway, Owner of Gramma Debbie’s Kitchen
Tosha Gannaway was a stay-at-home mom for 13 years before taking over Gramma Debbie’s Kitchen in 2022. After her three children were in elementary school, Debbie asked Tosha to help out at the market. Tosha volunteered at Gramma Debbie’s as a prep cook while her kids were at school. Eventually she learned all the recipes and regulars by heart and watched the counter so Debbie could do her thing. Approaching her 70th birthday, Debbie decided to retire and leave the business in Tosha’s capable hands.
“At that point, I knew all the recipes,” Tosha says. “I knew the vendors that she got her merchandise from. I felt confident taking it over. One thing I didn't realize was the behind-the-scenes work.”
When the market closes, Tosha’s work continues at her dining room table. She spends a few hours there each night placing orders and checking emails before her family gathers for dinner. Eating dinner together has been a cornerstone in their family. “When my husband and I decided to build a family, it was very important for both of us to reconnect with our kids at the dinner table,” she says. These days, dinner happens a little later at the Gannaway house. “If we have to wait until midnight, we’ll wait until everyone can be at the table.”
Both at work and at home, she makes sure people are well-fed. “Cooking for people is my love language,” she says. She lovingly dotes on her children, making them their favorite dishes for dinner. “I complain about being a short order cook, but wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Since taking over, Tosha has significantly expanded Gramma Debbie’s vegan options. They’ve always been known for their vegan goetta, but Tosha started experimenting with jackfruit after a handful of vegan guests mentioned they have soy allergies. She keeps the recipes almost identical aside from substituting jackfruit for meat. This way, carnivores and vegans alike can enjoy the same classic Gramma Debbie’s flavors.
An unexpected pleasure of running this business has been connecting with guests. “Customers don't just come down here for the food. They come down for the fellowship,” she says. There’s so much to love at Findlay Market beyond the products. It's not uncommon for guests to connect with the maintenance staff or the ladies at Market Center, routinely asking about their lives and checking up on their families.
Through the transition from volunteer to owner and operator of Gramma Debbie’s, Tosha has learned a lot about herself. “I’m capable. I’m stronger than I realized,” she says. Her children often remind her just how powerful she is, and that it’s OK to cry when you need to. Being a business owner offers a unique set of challenges and stressors, but Tosha takes them in stride and remembers why she’s here. “I’m here to create generational wealth for my children. That is my purpose for being here.”
Published July 2023