The flour of the Oregon Coast
It’s been more than 13 years since Kathy and Dan Draper planted their Jolly Roger at the corner of SE 51st Street and Hwy. 101, in the Taft district of Lincoln City. He’s the head pirate, she’s the first mate, and together they run Captain Dan’s Pirate Pastry Shop.
The cases are filled with an impressive array of turnovers, cookies, cinnamon rolls, muffin tops and, of course, Kathy’s family-recipe pies.
“Pies are such comfort food,” Kathy said, “People just get real warm and fuzzy and really want comfort food and want family and friends around.”
It was the search for a warmer, fuzzier life that brought Dan and Kathy to the coast after careers in banking. Captain Dan spent 30 years in the Portland Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank. Kathy also toiled at the Fed, although for a shorter duration, and operated her own coffee business in the financial district.
The couple have seen great success since setting up in Taft and were voted best bakery in Lincoln County from 2009 to 2013.
This combination of big bank expertise and small business smarts makes Dan the perfect candidate to dole out advice in “Ask a Pirate: The Business Edition.”
Q: What’s the key to good customer service?
A: That’s a good question. I certainly didn’t learn it at the Federal Reserve. There’s no customer service there. There is only compliance and non-compliance. Here, it’s totally different, but we have a good formula. We pay attention to our customers. We greet them at the door, we tell them to have a nice day when they leave, we give them directions and make them feel welcome here. It takes a certain kind of Disney personality, because people can be hard sometimes. I wish that every customer was like that little boy who came in and said, “Mr. Pirate! I waited ALL NIGHT to come here!” I hope that boy remembers me, because I will remember him. Maybe he’ll come visit me someday in the nursing home.
Q: Is it important to be a good salesman?
A: Sometimes, people have a preconceived idea of what they want, and that’s all they want, and if we don’t have it we tell them where they can find it. But if they just have a vague idea, then I try to take them down a little path, saying “Why don’t you try something new? Do you like chocolate? Fruit? Sweet? Tart?” I’d like to have a giant tongue chart that I could pull down, and point to the different taste buds with a long pointer.
Q: How do you and your first mate keep yourselves entertained after more than 13 years in business?
A: Are you kidding me? I wear a pirate hat! This is a fun job. It’s the world’s greatest job. It gets me out of the neighborhood, and off the street. We’re still really passionate about what we do. We give all our day-old pastries to the Backpack Program, which sends food home for school kids who need it over the weekend, and the local food pantries. We belong to the Bay Area Merchants Association, and we always take part in the Pirate Treasure Hunt in Depoe Bay. And we’re always trying new recipes and flavor combinations.
Q: Like the Shipwreck Turnover?
A: Exactly. That’s our bestselling turnover with apples, caramel, cream cheese and bacon. Isn’t that good? Kathy got the idea from watching “Worst Cooks in America” on the Food Network. People take a bite out of that, thinking that it’s going to be some overwhelming bacon thing going on, and then the caramel and cream cheese attacks the other portion of your tongue. All of a sudden, the apple comes in, waving a flag and says ‘no wait for me! I have flavor too, because I’m a Granny Smith apple.’ And then comes a completely different taste with the flaky crust. I could eat a whole tray. It’s like they’re laced with cocaine.
Captain Dan’s Pirate Pastry Shop is located at 5070 SE Hwy. 101 in the Taft district of Lincoln City. Opening hours are Thursday through Sunday, 8 am to 2 pm or until sold out. To reach them, call 541-996-4600.