News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes

Kat-Ali’s Store and Deli on Mackenzie Avenue is a unique blend of neighborhood friendliness, convenience and freshly baked food from scratch. The store is newly renovated, the hours of operation are convenient and customers are a number-one priority.

“This is a true neighborhood store,” said Manager Jan Brown, who has been in retail for 40 years. “We listen to customers and try to meet their needs.”

(Photo: Customers come from across town and throughout the neighborhood for the fresh baked food and good prices at Kat-Ali’s Store and Deli.) 

Kat-Ali’s sells fresh, homemade subs and sandwiches and home baked goods from scratch. There are things like sausage rolls, pepperoni wraps, French meat pies, pizza by the slice, deli meats and cheeses. There is also a frozen section, a dairy case and fresh coffee.

“Customers can phone in orders for pizzas and we have a fresh popcorn machine for loan or for rent,” Jan continued. “People come from across town to get lunch here---they like the good prices, the convenience and the fresh food.”

Pam King, who does the fresh baking from scratch at Kat-Ali’s, said that she started out working in the store on weekends. “I always had my ‘little cake thing’ on the side, baking specialty and wedding cakes out of my home,” she said. “Jan told me that she wanted to have some home baked goods in the store, so I started baking here three weeks ago.”

The response to Pam’s freshly baked goods has been extremely positive. “I can hardly keep up,” she laughed. “I do all the cookies, cinnamon buns, muffins and butter tarts, and the ham and cheese scones that are practically flying out the door. We also sell fresh cake by the slice---really convenient for lunches on the run.”

She said that a lot of mill workers come to buy their lunches. “It’s convenient and friendly---a unique place to buy fresh baking from scratch.”

Pam also bakes special-occasion cakes that are individualized and customized. “I use high-grade whipped topping for the cakes and cut them apart and use all different kinds of fillings. People love it because the icing isn’t too sweet,” she explained. “You can get cakes for weddings, birthdays, bridal and baby showers, retirement parties and more. No two cakes are ever the same—I find out what the person is like, and make the cake to suit them.”

You can see examples of Pam’s cakes at Sweet Moments Custom Cakes on Facebook.

For more information about Kat-Ali’s, which is located at 3015A Mackenzie Avenue next to the Comer Station Pub, phone 250-398-9827.