Hobos closes in Rehoboth after Hanson has 'aha' moment
Some say life can be divided into two time periods: before you know why you are alive and after. In between, there is a single moment – the aha moment — that turns a person into a person on a mission.
Gretchen Hanson recalls her aha moment, when she knew her life would never be the same.
She was home with her daughter when she decided to close her restaurant for good.
"I was too exhausted to bake cookies with my kid, yet I cook for strangers every day," she said. "All of a sudden, I just knew."
Hanson opened Hobos Restaurant in 2009. Located on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach, the eclectic eatery exploded on the scene with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options — all items now commonly found on menus, but not back then.
"No one knew what that stuff was," she said. "The farm-to-table movement hadn't even hit here yet. Hobos was pretty far out, and I loved it."
LEARN MORE:Chef: 'My career is as rewarding as it is destructive'
Hanson's versatility, however, was the key to her success.
Despite a heavy focus on healthy dishes and ingredients, the restaurant appeased to the entire family, even the meat-eaters.
"Families have to compromise on so much," she said. "Finding a place to come together to share a meal shouldn't be one of them."
Each dish could be made vegan, vegetarian, and/or gluten-free, or prepared with lots of butter, shrimp and steak.
A vegan herself, Hanson pulled from her extensive training in French, European and South American cuisine to prepare an array of food for any palate.
"I cook from smell, from memory and from love," she said. "My personal preferences have never held me back."
For the last seven years, Hanson worked countless hours on the line.
Her elevated, yet approachable cooking and infectious personalty earned Hobos a number of awards and state recognition, but it came at a price.
"I've missed a lot of things ... too many things," she said.
School dances, play dates, field trips and soccer games, to name a few.
"I don't want to miss out on any more 'mom' moments," she said. "I want to be there for my girls."
As Hanson transitions into the next phase of her life, she is scared, but excited.
She intends to continue catering, writing and teaching — everything that gives Hanson her, "magic." She has several large projects already on the horizon, including a cookbook she hopes to publish next year.
As for the space on Baltimore Avenue, the landlord has begun negotiations with another restaurant owner, although who that is remains a secret.
"This is a sad and emotional decision, but it's the right one for my family," she said. "I want to thank everyone for loving Hobos almost as much as I have, and for the outpouring of love and support I have received over the last few days. It's been absolutely amazing."
Ever-evolving Rehoboth is top LGBT, family destination
302-537-1881, ext. 207
On Twitter @hcarroll_1
On Instagram @thesassy_banana