Wild Harvest To Open South County Shop

Erica Maddalena is serious about feeding East Greenwich. Three years after she opened Wild Harvest Bakery Cafe at 5600 Post Road (a.k.a. the Benny’s plaza), Maddalena is preparing to open a second cafe on South County Trail.

You know the site – it’s that cute log cabin, home of O’Brien’s Tree Service for many years.

Bill and Maryellen O'Brien along with Bill's father built the log cabin at 1675 South County Trail in 1986. At the time, it was one of very few commercial buildings on that stretch of road and was surrounded by farmland.

By the time they were ready to retire, the O’Briens found everyone who looked at the property planned to tear down the log cabin. Except Wild Harvest.

According to Maddalena, the cabin is charming and the grounds – while in need of work – are beautiful and include fish ponds and a greenhouse.

Although the Post Road location has only a small seating area, the kitchen is terrific, said Maddalena, so there was no way she was going to give that up. Going forward, that kitchen will act as a commissary for the South County Trail location.

Maddalena envisions farm-to-table meals under a tent outdoors, featuring locally raised and grown food. And she’s eager to do more baking, something she hasn’t been able to do at the Post Road location. She’s hoping to be open by July 1.

“I’m very excited!”