Tiddaly Diddaly's owner a veteran of research flight

MATTAWA - New Tiddaly Diddaly's owner Ken Broda may not have much experience with business, but he certainly has with success.

The first time business man is retired from two flying careers - a total of 40 years. After 20 years of flying trainers, B-52s and U2 spy planes for the U.S. Air Force, he worked 20 years for Lockheed-Martin (L-M).

At L-M Broda flew the ER2, NASA's version of the U2. He also flew the F-35, the 5th generation fighter slated for purchase by eight allied countries. It is the latest in fighter technology.

Former Tiddaly Diddaly's owner Anita Brown had sought a buyer for 2-3 years, but she insisted on selling to someone whom she thought would be successful. Broda, who moved to Desert Aire in January, fit the bill.

"He's really good with people," said Brown, who will train Broda for a couple of months. "He's learning the business quickly."

Broda is learning well enough, he said, to leave well enough alone. He said there is nothing to fix at Tiddaly Diddaly's.

"I asked Anita: if she were going to make an improvement, what would it be? She said a pizza oven," Broda said. "So I'm going to buy a pizza oven so customers can sit here and eat."

Brown, who has had the Port of Mattawa eatery for 12 years, is looking forward to living in Thompson Falls, Mont. with her husband Cody starting some time in May. She grew up in Missoula.

"We're going to do the retirement thing and see how it goes," Brown said. "If I can't handle it, I'll find something to do."

Broda, a Californian, did not move to Desert Aire because of the business. He moved here to settle down after three years of living on the road in a motor home. He had purchased the Desert Aire home over the Internet as an investment.

"It was a rental, but it recently came open and I decided to move in. I had traveled enough," Broda said.

It was during a visit to the place last year that Broda became aware that Tiddaly Diddaly's was for sale. There was a gathering of Desert Aire pilots at T-D that day, and someone mentioned the fact. He acted on it in January.

"I didn't have a plan. This was kind of a lark," he said. "I needed to do something again."

Broda is not afraid of the complete change of careers. He said the value of hard work translates from one to another.

"If you can do one thing successfully, then you can do almost anything successfully," he said. "It's a matter of doing what it takes."

Tiddaly Diddaly's is a fresh sandwich and home-bake pizza shop. There is a breakfast menu and hard ice cream.

It is open from 8-6 Monday-Friday and from 10-6 on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays.