Siker Buys Nibble Scatering Operation

Rich Siker, who has been executive chef at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers since 1993, is purchasing Nibbles Gourmet Catering of Fayetteville from Suzie Stephens, a certified executive chef who started the business about 20 years ago.

Siker says it’s his opportunity to run a catering operation and Stephens’ opportunity to concentrate on Cafe Nibbles, the upscale restaurant she plans to open in June.

“You have to take chances in life, and this is my chance,” Siker says.

The two have been negotiating since February. The deal is expected to be finalized in early June. Siker gave notice May 18 that he would be leaving Pinnacle.

Siker says he’ll base Nibbles Gourmet Catering from a strip mall on Moberly Lane in Bentonville. Stephens plans to use the building at 3290 N. Lee Ave. in Fayetteville – where the catering operation had been located – for the restaurant instead.

“It was growing beyond me,” Stephens says of the catering business. “How on earth can you do the kind of restaurant we’re trying to do and run this catering business? … I just want to do [the restaurant] like perfect.”

Stephens says she’ll sign a non-compete agreement with Siker, and she will also retain a percentage of the profits from Nibbles Gourmet Catering. She says the business will benefit by having a “younger, aggressive” owner.

Also, with the catering operation based in Benton County, it will be able to take care of corporate business that was out of Nibbles’ reach when it was based in Fayetteville, Stephens says.

Siker, originally of Pittsburgh, Pa., came to Rogers from Atlanta to serve as chef at Pinnacle.

Morgan Stout, who had been working with Stephens in the catering operation, will serve as executive chef at Cafe Nibbles. Vanda Porter will be the sous chef. Stephens will serve as the pastry chef.

In the meantime, Stephens will continue to operate Nibbles Food Emporium, a retail shop at 3184 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville.