The Table of Plenty, formerly known as Cindy's Table of Plenty, is still up and running, though it is under new ownership and management.

Ralph Gaston has owned the business since June 4.

"I've always wanted to own a restaurant, always been my dream to own a small place," Gaston said. "The opportunity came up so I grabbed it."

He bought the business from Dave Robinson for $20,000.

The business formerly was managed by Cindy Thompson.

Gaston has tried to continue her spirit of creativity, homemade food and comfortable surroundings.

The menu is pretty much the same, Gaston said.

"I've changed the clam chowder recipe, which was hard because Cindy's was really good," he said.

Gaston added some new soup recipes, including Italian wedding soup.

"We just started experimenting," Gaston said of the soup recipes. "If it works, it's a recipe. If it doesn't, it was an experiment."

His light-hearted attitude in the kitchen has brought classics to the menu such as the bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich.

Gaston is expanding breakfast, adding biscuits and gravy, English muffin sandwiches and, eventually, waffles.

"Home-made, right-there-while-you-wait, from-batter waffles," Gaston said.

The waffles will be added after a move to a new location because the current counter space is too small to accommodate the waffle iron.

The move also is because rent has increased.

At the new location, which he is not yet announcing, he also will have the counter space to start making use of his espresso machine.

Currently, the restaurant offers regular Allann Bros. coffee, and, Gaston said, any flavoring is free.

The restaurant serves Umpqua and Cascade Glacier ice cream.

Gaston said he has 16 flavors, but plans to increase that to 24 in time.

Local artists still display and sell their work, Gaston said.

"She (Thompson) started it and I can't stop it. It's so neat," he said.

Gaston said the artists are responsible for displaying their work in his business, and he does not charge them anything.

"It doesn't cost me anything," Gaston said. "It's a free service. It's a very inexpensive way for me to do something for the community and local artists."

Gaston said he sells three to five items a week.

He has stepped up his advertising, using both local radio and the Lebanon Express, where he prints a weekly coupon.

"I believe if I can get people to come in to the restaurant, it's easier to get people to come back, "Gaston said. "We have great people working here, great food, great prices."

The Table of Plenty makes nearly everything by hand, Gaston said, except the cinnamon rolls and pies, which they get from Kris' Kitchen.

Gaston said he is looking to start up live entertainment, though he wouldn't have much more than a sandwich and soda to pay them with.

He said he is learning a lot and enjoying every minute of the experience.