CEBA's Commercial Kitchen Honors Local Family Legacy
"Ted and Jean Twardzik Memorial Kitchen"
The Center For Education, Business & Arts (CEBA) is slated to be completed by the end of this year and formally open in January 2026. One of the spaces within this multi-purpose community center on North Main Street, will include a commercial kitchen. The kitchen will provide a professional space for budding food and beverage entrepreneurs, home bakers, and cooks to produce their goods. It will also act as an extension to small restaurants that need more kitchen space to package and bottle their products for resale. Additionally, this space will offer culinary classes, educational programming, and demonstrations for community members.
CEBA is a reality thanks to DSI's many friends, donors, supporters, and advocates. One family that has supported this project from the beginning is the Tom Twardzik family. Tom and his wife Pam, donated $120,000 from their private foundation to name the commercial kitchen after Tom's parents, the founders of Mrs. T's Pierogies. Twardzik explained that he discussed the idea with his family, and everyone agreed. "After much discussion from the family, we would like the name of the kitchen to be Ted and Jean Twardzik Memorial Kitchen," Twardzik said.
Pictured above: Karen Kenderdine accepts a donation from Tom Twardzik in 2024 for commercial kitchen naming rights
DSI is thrilled and thankful that such an important part of Shenandoah history will live on in a building that will take our small town into the future. "The couple also assisted our nonprofit with a private, personal loan when we fell a little short at the time we had to award the building's contract," said Karen Kenderdine, DSI president and treasurer. "Throughout this long, challenging process, Tom has given his time, talent, and finances to bring our building to life. He has been invaluable to DSI's mission of returning Shenandoah to Prominence, and we are eternally grateful," she added.
"How fitting that the CEBA commercial kitchen will honor the Twardzik family who started the now famous pierogie brand in a small Shenanodah kitchen so many years ago," said Mary Luscavage, DSI acting executive director. "We hope this kitchen will inspire and assist others to follow the Twardzik legacy and create their own American dream."
In addition to the Ted and Jean Memorial Kitchen, CEBA will include a Penn State classroom, Earn office, DSI headquarters, event center, co-working space, and Primary Health clinic.
For more information about CEBA or to donate, visit discoverceba.com.
