The Recipe for Success
Courtney Callo , Owner and Founder of Willoughby ’ s Depot Eatery , beautifully rebrands and reinvents Mrs . Murphy ’ s Donuts , a cherished Manchester hospitality landmark
Stepping through the doors of Willoughby ’ s Depot Eatery on any given morning , one is likely to find a band of jolly guests enjoying a hot cup of coffee and a tempting , sugary treat . As lighthearted banter echoes throughout the room , the smell of freshly-baked donuts , scrumptious pastries , and savory breakfast sandwiches wafts through the air . Lifelong locals and visiting tourists congregate at tables and coffee bar stools , swapping stories with one another while the sun rises over the nearby mountains . Behind the counter , the owner of the charming eatery , Courtney Callo , holds court with jovial flair . Although her affect is as warm and inviting as the frosted sugar on a fresh batch of glazed donuts , her business acumen is anything but half-baked .
Through a mixture of hard work and conscientious oversight , Callo has found the proverbial “ sweet spot ” for her eatery in more ways than one . She has captured the enduring appeal of a small-town donut and sandwich shop by honoring the legacy of Mrs . Murphy ’ s Donuts , the well-known Manchester landmark that formerly occupied the same space on Depot Street . Callo proudly bakes her donuts with the same trademark Mrs . Murphy ’ s Donuts recipes that were celebrated for decades by Manchester ’ s residents and visitors , but she has taken smart and forward-thinking steps to ensure the continued relevancy of the business . The end result is a guest experience that is every bit as enjoyable and refreshing as the first bite of one of Willoughby ’ s perfectly-prepared pastries .
The Recipe for Success
Callo has only been officially involved in the hospitality business for a year and a half , but she is no stranger to the Southern Vermont food scene . A native resident of Manchester , her inborn acuity for hospitality management was passed down to her by her father , Peter Mutz . Courtney was brought up on top of Mount Equinox , where her parents ran Skyline Inn . Her father worked as the Chef at Skyline Inn , and later worked as the Food & Beverage Manager at Bromley Mountain for several decades . Coincidentally , several employees that Mutz employed throughout his time in Bromley ’ s kitchens also ended up working at Mrs . Murphy ’ s Donuts . Callo fondly remembers coming into Mrs . Murphy ’ s at various points during its former owner , Drew Bove ’ s four-decade managerial tenure . “ I would walk in and see the employees that I knew from Bromley , which was so wonderful . I also knew many of the regulars who would come to sit at the counter .”