Transplant takes root, sprouts Garlick Shop

Lola Garlick, who, with her husband Todd has opened "The Garlick Shop" in downtown McCook, Nebraska, packs a steamer full of home-made tamales. Abel Acosta, above, of McCook recently bought a couple dozen tamales for lunch for his roofing crew, and Lola packed hot sauce "to go." Lola's "paletas" (popsicles) are all natural. Todd's father -- Dr. George Garlick, who grew up on a Frontier County farm and whose father, Guy Bryan "Bus" Garlick, worked at the College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis -- encouraged Todd to bring Lola to Nebraska. Although Todd grew up in Washington State, he spent his summers on the Garlick farm north of McCook. Dr. George Garlick, now of Richland, Wash., is an inventor, entrepreneur, author and the developer of 20 international companies. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Friends were shocked. Oh, no! Not Nebraska! It's so isolated. It's so hot.

But Lola, a native of Mexico, was determined and challenged and full of energy, and her father-in-law encouraged the adventure. So, 4 1/2 years ago, Lola and her husband, Todd Garlick, moved from the Tri Cities of Washington State to a farm 16 miles north of McCook, Nebraska.

After whipping the farm into shape -- pulling weeds taller than she is -- Lola now calls Nebraska, and her farm north of McCook, "my home. I even want to be buried here ... in the Garden Prairie Church cemetery."

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

Having installed her animal menagerie and having met the challenge of cleaning up the farm's overgrowth, Lola felt she needed to "sell something." Avon, yes. But beyond that, she had this dream of a shop she and Todd had thought they would open in Mexico.

A friend at the Seventh Day Adventist church in McCook had a building in downtown McCook. Would he rent it, Todd asked. No, but he would sell it.

"We prayed and prayed about it," Lola said. "God opened this door, and here we are."

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

The door that God opened is on the west side of the 100 block of Norris Avenue, at the far south end of McCook's brick-paved main street. Behind that door, Todd and Lola have opened "The Garlick Shop," offering Lola's home-made food in the restaurant and home-grown vegetables and health foods on the shop shelves.

Lola offers tamales, sauces, cheese, tortillas, chili, soups, popsicles -- using recipes that she has reinvented to address her own health goals and to help others who want to eat healthier.

Although she serves chicken and beef in recipes like her tamales, her personal favorite recipes are meatless and feature soy, gluten, beans and vegetables.

Lola makes her own fresh soy milk cheese, a soft, flavorful cheese that she uses in lasagna and spaghetti. "Or," she said, "You can sit down to the table and eat it with a fork."

Lola doesn't cook with hot sauce, but she does offer it -- homemade, with varying degrees of hotness -- on the table and with "to go" meals. The restaurant offers two tables, or all meals can be prepared to go.

For dessert, customers can select a popsicle -- an unbelievably good, tasty frozen treat. "A normal popsicle is water and sugar and flavoring and color," Lola said, chuckling. "Mine is not." Lola's are fruit and water, like the mango chili, or vegetable, using cucumbers. (P.S. -- The chia seed, coconut and whole blueberry may be green -- it's tough being green -- but oh, my. The flavor is wonderful.)

Lola believes deeply in her meatless and natural diet and wants to share its benefits with others. "We love to help people," Lola said.

Lola grows her own habanero and cayenne peppers and tomatoes at the farm. On the shop shelves, she offers home-grown produce as well as vitamins and supplements for digestion, weight control, bones and joints, skin care and women's health.

Lola and Todd's "Garlick Shop" is located at 102 Norris Avenue, in downtown McCook. It is open Sunday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. It's closed Saturday. For questions, call Lola at (308) 344-9390 or (308) 737-1955.