“The people here give me immense hope,” Costello said.
“I love cheese. It’s my life force,” said Costello, who takes pride in offering unique cheeses and creating custom charcuterie boards tailored to her customers’ tastes. “There is creativity in using a variety of cheeses. I love planning menu items for parties. It’s like a work of art.”
Costello’s passion for food began in her youth. Born and raised in Washington state, she gained early exposure to the industry when her mother opened a restaurant. After earning a degree in music and working in Seattle’s music production and concert-booking scene for 20 years, she moved to Prescott in 2008 to be closer to her parents, following the birth of her first child.
In Prescott, Costello served as the general manager of The Raven and later joined Sheri Shaw’s Back Alley Wine Bar, where she eventually took the reins at Back Alley Cheese Bar. The bar, located in Firehouse Plaza on Goodwin Street, has earned a reputation for excellent customer service, gluten-free and vegetarian options and a commitment to meeting customers’ dietary needs.
Back Alley Cheese Bar is a sponsor of the Athena Awards, presented by Quad Cities Business News, on Friday, Sept. 20 at Starting Point in the Pine Ridge Marketplace. “I love that women in business are celebrated in this way,” Costello said. The bar will provide appetizers for the event.
As much as she loves her business, Costello recently received a breast cancer diagnosis, prompting her to put it on the market. Since her diagnosis, she says the Prescott community has rallied around her. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with her healthcare expenses and women have shared their own breast cancer experiences with her.
“The people here give me immense hope,” Costello said. “Women came forward to share with me that they’ve been able to successfully beat breast cancer.”
Despite the challenges ahead, Costello remains optimistic, drawing strength from the outpouring of support from the Prescott community. QCBN
By Stan Bindell, QCBN
For more information, email backalleycheese@gmail.com.
Photo by Stan Bindell: Tiana Costello enjoys creating custom charcuterie boards, including gluten-free and vegetarian options, for her Back Alley Cheese Bar patrons.
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