Van Buren mother runs business in a former gas station

A Van Buren mother’s passion for canning has led to renovating an old gas station and turning it into a family-owned business.

Four years ago, Cayla Duckwall brought her four homemade jam flavors to the Van Buren Popcorn Festival.

Duckwall launched her small business, known as Mama Duck’s, and began to build relationships with other local artisans in Grant County and across the state as she brought her goods to markets.

On Dec. 3, 2022, she opened a small shop in Van Buren selling her own canned goods along with allocating space for other vendors to sell their crafts.

With the help of friends and community members, the Duckwall family transformed what was once a fuel and service station into a small shop.

“This building was literally built in the year 1900… this building has been our biggest challenge, for sure, to convert it,” Duckwall said.

In Aug. 2024, the building’s purpose expanded with the addition of a cafe, Mama Duck’s Kitchen: Pieces of Home.

Jen Plummer met Duckwall through the popcorn festival and said she has become close friends with her.

Plummer now helps her friend out in the cafe and shop.

“I just love how it is made up of locals,” Plummer said. “Somebody’s ‘I like to do this because I like to craft…’ can be an extra set of income for them.”

Mama Duck’s Kitchen is currently open Thursdays 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

The menu changes weekly with items such as brisket, burrito bowls, buffalo chicken mac and cheese, breakfast sandwiches, hoagies and more.

One item Duckwall tends to keep on the menu in some capacity is nachos. The cafe has served Mexican-style nachos, pulled pork nachos and pancake nachos.

Emilee Burke recently visited the shop and ordered the pancake nachos, consisting of pancake donuts, strawberries, blueberries, banana slices, syrup and whipped cream.

“Their pancake nachos. Genius. Delicious,” Burke said. “Overall, it’s just a really cute little community-based place.”

Duckwall said community is a special part of Mama Duck’s. 

“In the summer, you see people sitting out at the picnic tables… like that’s a community meeting point,” Duckwall said. “Getting those community members together is a big deal.”

Duckwell now makes and sells 12 flavors of jam and nine flavors of salsa along with a weekly menu in the cafe. 

The mother of two continues to work full-time outside of her business, although she said she hopes to someday open the cafe more than three days a week. 

“This is what we’re doing… people are excited,” Duckwall said. “A lot of people want me to stick around.”