by Kalin Thomas

Driving through downtown Kirkwood, along Hosea Williams Drive one may have passed by a little treasure without even knowing it. But more and more locals are stopping in to Le Petit Marche (The Little Market) for food made with locally grown and produced products.

Owner Marchet Sparks said the name of the shop reflects her love of France, which she said has little markets on almost every corner. She also likes the fact that “marche” is pronounced like her own name. Le Petit Marche was opened as a specialty food store a little more than a year ago to sell locally made products like her fresh breads, fresh cheeses, Just Add Honey herbal teas, Bellagio chocolate covered pecans, Via Elisa’s fresh pasta sauces, Bee Factory’s Local Honey made from free-range beekeeping, and Mumbo Jumbo seasonings, which are made right in Kirkwood.

But with the economic downturn, her specialty foods weren’t selling enough, so Sparks decided to add a restaurant to the market. And it started paying off, with Atlanta Magazine naming it “Best of Atlanta 2008” and Jezebel Magazine naming it “Best of What’s New 2008.”

Sparks said she got a lot of her decorating ideas from her travels through France, like the beautiful mural of a French countryside on the back wall. The décor is eclectic and inviting with antique kitchenware on display that gives the place a homey feel. And the warm smells of food and soft jazz music entice customers to stay awhile. Sparks said she wants patrons to feel at home.

And that’s just how Kirkwood resident and frequent customer Robert Brown said he feels when he visits. And as she does with most of her regulars, Sparks calls him by name when he comes in. Brown calls Le Petit Marche, “The oasis of Kirkwood.” He’s been coming since it opened, though he has decreased his frequency from every day to once a week. “I always get the turkey sandwich on wheat bread, and I love the soups made by Marchet’s mom,” he explained.

Sparks said her most popular lunch item is the Basil Chicken & Pesto Panini, which she designed with locally made Hope’s Gardens Pesto. Her second most popular sandwich is the Cuban panini. Other items on the menu include: Caribbean chicken, spicy tuna on croissant, and the French toast sandwich layered with scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage and drizzled with warm maple syrup. Kids love the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches made with P.B. Loco premium peanut butter, also made locally. The popular item has peanut butter and jelly swirled together in flavors like white chocolate raspberry, cinnamon raisin, dark chocolate duo, and jungle banana.

“It’s a labor of love,” said Sparks. It’s also a family affair, with her mom coming in once a day to make fresh soups like loaded baked potato, seafood bisque and her chili, which Sparks says “flies out of the store.” And her dad, Ike, greets patrons with such a warm and friendly personality that most regulars call him “Pop” and ask about him when he’s not there.

Le Petit Marche is located at 1963 Hosea Williams Drive in Atlanta and sells breakfast and lunch only, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the week. Weekend hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it gets pretty crowded with patrons coming from as far away as Cumming.