People of Troy

Interview with Melanie O'malley, owner of O'Malley's Oven

When have you most felt supported by Troy?

"In general, having a booth at the farmers’ market. I started there, I think, 10 or 11 years ago, and I just had a little incubator kitchen, no storefront. That was my sort of introduction to really being part of the Troy community, and that was just through the farmers’ market. That was what drew me to Troy for putting roots down. And so it’s been this building of just seeing how businesses collaborate. Like, Naughters carries our buttermilk rolls. John Naughter and I actually worked at the shop when it first opened, so it’s been really fun to see both of us grow. But if there was one moment— this last September, my daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and the outpouring of support… because she’s been such a part of the bakery, so I shared that experience. Businesses offering support, owners reaching out, people coming up to the booth at the farmers’ market asking after her. There was one woman who followed the Instagram and came to the booth— not even to talk to me, but to introduce herself to Hazel and say, “Hi, my name’s so-and-so, and I’m 29 years old, I’ve been type 1 since I was 10, and I’m a lawyer, and I run marathons, and you can do anything.” And just that level of community and support and being held— if I have to pick one instance, it’s that moment, because it was a completely life-changing moment. But that said, it’s every day. I love this town so much."

What part of Troy mirrors a part of you?

"I have the capacity as a person— capacity or bad habit, I don’t know which one it is— of wearing too many hats and saying yes to too many things, but it opens up opportunity. Being on the board of the farmers market, having the storefront, talking to other businesses and that sort of stuff. I see that in Troy a lot, because we’re so focused on independent business and the arts scene here — the music and visual arts that’s really coming back. Just the ability to hold space to be multifaceted. Troy does that. I don’t know if it’s maybe because I’m diagnosed ADHD, but I am multifaceted, and lots of things drive me forward. The intellectual capacity of working on the board of the farmers market, and then just losing myself in baking and creating and the storytelling of community and my family— those are all in Troy. Visual art, music, spoken word, amazing food— Troy’s got it all and embraces it all. The people and the character that drive Troy are very from-the-ground-up, and that is my roots. My family are principals that fall here."

If your storefront could talk, what would it say?

"I think things are hard right now for a lot of small businesses. I’m really optimistic about Troy, but the reality is things are really hard for all of us right now.

And I think my storefront— along with every other storefront in downtown Troy right now if they could speak, it would be: “Hey, come in. Don’t forget about us. We all need to support each other, and your money goes further in a local economy. So please, please, please. Let’s talk.” I think that’s what my storefront would say.