Once Upon a Thyme: ‘Our really fun space’
Bookshop focuses solely on cookbooks, food-related titles.
Business Name: Once Upon a Thyme Bookshop
Location: 3491 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek OH 45432
Owner’s name: Kristina Heaton Years in operation: 2 Employees: 1 Describe what your busi
ness does: Once Upon a Thyme Bookshop is Ohio’s only bookstore that focuses solely on cookbooks and food- related titles. We have all genres of cookbooks (new, used, and vintage), foodie Action, aswell as food memoirs. Special gifts round out our really fun space.
What inspired you to start this business? My love for books and learning inspiredmeto open a bookstore. When I started to research the business, I knew I needed tomake it special. I found out there are only 14 cookbook stores across the country, and I feel like the Miami Valley is a prime location for a cookbook store. People are eating and creating athomemore all of the time and cooking is a funway to exper
iment. Dayton is becoming a food and beverage destination with these emerging restaurants and bars.
How has your business embraced innovation?
Learning and experimenting is an integral part to cooking andwhile I might not know“how” to do something, I usually knowwhere I can find it. I like being a conduit of knowledge.
What’s your biggest challenge right now? Honestly, online shopping. While I do have an online shopping platform onmywebsite, it’s hardtocompete with the bigger places. Also, just coming out of being closed for twoplus months and relocating, it’s been hard to get people back in the door. But, I promise it’s worth the trip!
What’s your biggest opportunity right now? I am reinventing the store.
I’ve had to adjust my businessmodel(as somany other small businesses have had to do). I want to expand to more titles and fun kitchen gadgets. But, we’ve got to have the interest.
What do youwant read
ers to know about your business today?
Once Upon a Thyme Bookshop is a fun destination, come andexploreourbookshelves. You’re sure tofindsomething fun and interesting.