When Steve and Cindy Caheely bought a 1930's house in LaFayette in 1988, it was originally used as a gift shop, but when the retail business started struggling, Cindy Caheely decided to try out using the room to cater Christmas parties.
It filled up every opening within a week.
Ivy Cottage owners Steve and Cindy Caheely show off the LaFayette eatery's dining room."Everyone kept telling me, 'Why don't you open up a restaurant.'" Caheely said.
And they did just that. Twenty years ago this past April, she and her husband opened the Ivy Cottage.
"How many people can truly say they love being able to do what they do for 20 years?" Cindy Caheely said. "I love what I'm doing and being creative; instead of using a canvas for painting I use food."
Ivy Cottage has unique items on the menu and favors using chicken in many of the recipes. Everything is homemade from scratch and some herbs and vegetables come straight out of the cottage's own garden.
"Eighty percent of staying in business is good, loyal customers and the other 20 percent is that no one has had anything like our menu," Caheely said.
Some not so typical items are Cindy's Chicken Pecan Quiche and a wide assortment of crepes with options of chicken or fruits. Margaret's Chicken Salad and Dot's Sour Cream Chicken Over Rice are customer favorites, Caheely said.
Most of the staff has been working at the restaurant since it opened, which Caheely said keeps the food consistent.
Brenda Cooper and Beth Griffitt drive from Trion, Ga., for the experience and food.
"The Ivy Cottage has a friendly staff that knows you by your name," Cooper said. "It's a personal experience."
The Ivy Cottage is a six-time award winner for Taste of Chattanooga, was named Best of Walker County for 2008 and 2009 and Best of Walker County Runner-Up 2010-2011, as well as the 2011 Best of North Georgia.