MOSES LAKE — The owners of the Favored Farmhouse celebrated expanding their business by cutting the ribbon for the new drive-through Thursday – and co-owner Daphne Martinez said there’s more to come. 

Martinez and her husband Derek have spent about five years working on their expansion plans, she said, for which the drive-through for coffee and soda customers is the first phase. The second phase is already underway; the Favored Farmhouse sponsored a night market throughout the summer. One food truck is in operation next to the namesake farmhouse, with plans for more trucks and a permanent commercial kitchen and dining space.  

“Our new building will start construction and that will ensure a prep kitchen,” Martinez said. “Our trucks will have what they need and have an indoor eatery so they can operate all year in a warm building. And after that, it will be continuing to improve the food (choices).” 

The night markets have been a big draw, she said. 

“The weekends we haven’t done them, we’ve had so many text messages and (social media) asking, ‘Is there a night market tonight?’ People look forward to it, and that is a really good feeling.” 

In an earlier interview, Martinez said they bought the lots next to the historic building, 414 S. Alder St., from the city with expansion in mind.  

“It’s like having a central location where families can come. If you have kids, they don’t always want to eat what you’re eating for dinner. It would be nice to be able to have some choices,” she said.  

The next event is scheduled for Saturday, the same day as Sip ‘n Stroll, an annual downtown event sponsored by the Downtown Moses Lake Association.  

“We’re closing down the street, bringing in vendors. We’ll have music this year, and we’ll have a car show,” Martinez said.  

Expansion was on their minds when they bought the gift shop eight years ago, Martinez said. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed things down, but eventually they added a coffee and soda shop, with a wide variety from chai tea to lattes to hot chocolate. Daphne Martinez invented the custom sodas featured on the menu.  

The old farmhouse is a longtime fixture in Moses Lake; Judy Madewell said her grandfather moved the old house into town in 1948 and operated it as a boardinghouse. Daphne and Derek Martinez bought it in 2018. 

More events are planned over the fall and winter, Daphne said, with the goal of making a place for everyone, but especially Moses Lake residents. 

“We really feel like Moses Lake is special,” she said. “It’s where we grew up, where our kids have grown up, and we feel like, why not make it a place where people want to be and stay? We should be able to come home and love where we are.”