ABOUT US
ABOUT US
ABOUT US
NICOLE & BJ MIKODA
Our story is about bringing people together through what we do best: fresh, made from scratch food, friendly service, and a commitment to community.
For both of us that story began with the influence of our Italian grandmothers/grandmother figures: Mum Mum and Auntie Roma. From a young age, these fierce and compassionate women taught us the power of what simple, fresh ingredients combined with love and intentionality can do: connect people together.
In 2008 Valley Cafe in Akron became our vehicle to continue the legacy of connecting people through food. In 2015 we opened our second Valley Cafe location in downtown Wadsworth.
Along the way something really magical happened: we got a front row seat to watch our little corner of downtown Wadsworth begin to come back to life. We started seeing people return to downtown who hadn't been there for years. It quickly became a gathering place for people from all over the area and beyond. We loved watching people walk through the dining room seeing their friends, neighbors and making new friendships.
And the longer we stayed in Wadsworth the more we wanted to be part of the revitalization so we began looking at properties.
VISIT VALLEY CAFE
When the chance came to purchase The Strand theater, one of the most iconic and beloved buildings in downtown Wadsworth, we just knew this was our opportunity.
VISIT THE STRAND
Around this time we had gone out to dinner with some great friends in Akron. The server asked us if we wanted dessert. It was then that we had a discussion about how cool it would be to have a fun place close by to go for really good desserts and drinks afterwards.
A real destination! And that was the day the idea for DOLCE and "Operation Destination Downtown" was born.
When we first decided to introduce gelato to Wadsworth and the surrounding areas, we knew that in order for this to be a success, we had to learn the right way to make it.
First step: GELATO SCHOOL!
We have learned from the best, Maria Coassin, a native Italian and owner of one of the most successful gelato shops in the USA. She taught us from all of her mistakes and successes of how to create and balance our own small batch recipes.
Maria even came to Wadsworth to help train our production makers before we opened. Our Italian imported equipment and cases, along with these recipes create the creamy texture and robust flavors in our gelatos and sorbets.
After that, we had to find the best bakers to join our team. Real bakers who were creative, knew how to bake from scratch, not just throw mixes together or put frozen dough on a cookie sheet.
Finally, we had to find positive, friendly people to serve you who embrace our Core Values, appreciate and value our craft, and who love to enthusiastically share it with you.
And oh yes, there was a big ole construction project in there too. It was amazing to watch the theater acknowledge her past while she turned the page to the future. Her bones are strong. Her history is deep. And her future is bright.