Chio’s Treats offers gluten-free products at the Grand Marais Farmers Market

The Community Center kitchen has served as a beneficial launching point for many Cook County entrepreneurs. 

One of the most recent entrepreneurs to get their start via the commercial kitchen is Rocio Rivas, the owner of Chio’s Treats. 

Chio’s Treats offers gluten-free products such as bread, cake, and cookies. Rivas said she noticed a need in Grand Marais for gluten-free or allergen-free products and started experimenting and baking tasty treats at her house. After some success, she started a business and rented the Community Center kitchen. 

“The kitchen is great. It’s good to bake in a professional oven,” Rivas said. “For entrepreneurs and startups like me, the kitchen is the best.”

Rivas has been offering her tasty gluten-free products at the Grand Marais Farmers Market on Thursdays. She said she has received positive feedback and support since starting her business. “I have some friends that come every week. And that is nice,” she said. “What I’m doing is through love to the people that have some sort of food allergy. And I just want to help somebody in the way.”

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Rocio Rivas, the owner of Chio’s Treats, about her new business. Audio from the interview is below. 

Kalli Hawkins July 29, 2023