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(Riverton, WY) – Folks looking to try something new for dinner now have another option in Riverton. Amanda Henry, owner of Brown Sugar Coffee Roastery, officially expanded the business back in August with the launch of a new “ghost kitchen” style of restaurant called The Alley, which offers “gourmet burgers, your way,” in addition to various sides, salads, and appetizers.
What is a ghost kitchen?
Henry explained that ghost kitchens are simply restaurants without dining rooms that “focus on delivery and pickup.” They have been around for more than a decade, but surged in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as traditional dining rooms closed and folks were looking for more takeout options.
She had considered the idea for years but waited until staffing and timing aligned.
“We were trying to create a concept that was in between fast food and sit-down dining,” Henry said. “It’s delivery and takeout, but it’s not fast food. A lot of people still ask, ‘What is a ghost kitchen?’ It’s a new concept for many here, but once people try it, they get it.”
Brown Sugar itself has been a community staple since 2009. Henry purchased the assets in 2017 to establish her own company, and the Riverton restaurant has been operating since 2018. The new ghost kitchen represents another step forward.
Located in the same building as Brown Sugar, The Alley runs separately with its own hours, menu and online ordering system. Customers can order exclusively through DoorDash or the Alley Burger website. The Alley menu is centered on burgers, with both build-your-own options and signature creations. Henry noted that the customizable “build your own burger” has quickly become the best seller.
Henry emphasized that there is no phone number to call in orders (you can only order online), and that The Alley is entirely separate from Brown Sugar’s operations.
“Brown Sugar has its own menu, and the Alley has its own menu,” she said. “They don’t overlap.”
The ghost kitchen is open Thursday through Monday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays, and until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It remains closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Pickup orders are available directly from the kitchen’s door, marked with The Alley’s sign.