LUCINDA, Pa. (EYT) – The PA Mushroom Company opened its first market, gift shoppe, and kitchen this past weekend at 28868 Route 66.
Article by Ron Wilshire

“My interest in mushrooms probably goes back well over ten years,” said owner Esperanzo (Espo) Wilcox as he prepared fresh stir fry for visitors on Friday.

“But, doing this at this scale, as far as cultivation and the food, it’s probably been going on four years now, going on five.”

The kitchen was open with a limited menu as Espo and his wife Kristen were getting things rolling, but plans for delicious food and a gift shop are only a tiny part of what they plan for the business.

Expo said the building was purchased in January, and it took ten months for the company to become licensed as a restaurant and open its doors.

“We will have some indoor seating, and we will also have a takeout window. If you’re on the go, you can get an order within 10 to 15 minutes and be out the door. We’ll have a takeout window out front.”

Behind the restaurant building, an additional structure now under construction will be partially used for mushroom growth space, and the entire mushroom cultivation process can be accomplished. In addition, it will include 40-foot shipping containers.

Additional structure under construction for mushroom growing.

Clarion Mushroom has been at the Clarion Farmers Market for three years, and they like the local support. That kind of support inspired the company to push forward once it got local feedback, and then the company figured out what people were interested in.

When the company first started, it concentrated on growing mushrooms, selling cultivation kits for customers, and providing educational programs on mushrooms.

PA Mushrooms grows mushrooms with USDA-certified organic inputs.

“Producing high-quality organic mushrooms has been a standard essential for its customers. The business is Wild Mushroom Food Safety Certified.”

Their seasonal wild mushroom offerings include Chanterelles, Maitake, Chicken of the Woods, Black Trumpets, Chaga, Lion’s Mane, and Oyster Mushrooms.

“Initially, we didn’t want to do food, but the community outcry for it was kind of loud,” Espo said. “I would meet and speak with people, and they would always say, ‘Hey, whenever you get the bar back open and have some food, we’ll stop in.’ So we said, ‘Well if there’s a community need and demand, we’ll do what they asked.'”

Not only that, but Espo will collaborate with other Lucinda area businesses to expand his offerings. Gruber Farms Pasture Raised Meats will provide brats, and Doug Bauer of DB’s Smokin’ BBQ Shack has been discussing collaborating on a wood-fired pizza.

“He has an oven that I’m going to look at. So, that’s definitely in the future for next spring or summer,” Espo added. “We definitely would like to do some wood-fired pizza and a cheesesteak. We have Gruber Farms, and we’re working with Clarion Farms Beef to make a burger or cheesesteak. AbbyK’s of New Bethlehem will provide us with milk…We love local farm input.”

A native of South Florida. Espo and wife Kristin have accomplished much in their eight years, including two children.

The PA Mushroom Company will be open Tuesday through Sunday starting at 10:00 a.m.