J ust Eat The Cookie and Quaint Boutique have opened up in downtown Wadsworth. The owners, Sarah Richards and Veronica Andexler, have been longtime friends and are now running their own businesses under the same roof.
The two small businesses that share the building are the Quaint Boutique and Just Eat The Cookie. One side is a retail and housewares shop, owned by Richards, and the other is home to baked goods and a kitchen, owned by Andexler.
The two owners have been friends for five years, making the opening of their shared store more personal.
“Vee and I have been friends for five plus years… and she’s such a great spirit and vibrant and excited any time she meets someone. She’s one of those people you’ll never forget after meeting her,” Richards said. “So, as soon as I saw the kitchen, I thought, she’s been talking about having to expand her business, so I hope I can help her.”
The store is both a financial and personal decision. The two owners can help each other in business situations and develop creative ideas together.
One side features Just Eat The Cookie, a custom cookie business. Andexler will continue to have cookies in Uniquely Handmade For You, but the store is a second location with more room for Just Eat The Cookie.
“In Unique, I was just a vendor,” Andexler said. “I bring in cookies and keep our stock. We’re still going to stay in Unique; we’ll just be offering a wider variety of our cookies and baked goods next door.”
The bakery has a kitchen for easier production of cookies and other baked goods. Just Eat The Cookie will host cooking classes and have unique utensils for customers to create pastries.
The opposite side of the store inhabits Quaint Boutique, a garments and kitchenwares store.
The boutique is split between women’s and men’s clothing. Housewares include various kitchen items and a display of vinyl records for customers to browse.
“We’re going to have everything for men and women… men’s and women’s clothing, [along with] housewares,” said Richards. “I’d say the style of clothing will range from casual to dressy. The housewares will have things related to coffee and wine and just working in the kitchen. So, measuring cups and spoons, salt and pepper shakers, cute little mugs, cold brew, thermoses, French pressers, and milk frothers.”
Both owners share the philosophy of wanting to provide for the Wadsworth community and give back to them for supporting their endeavors.
Richards has seen anticipation on social media, where citizens are getting acquainted with both shop owners and has developed a sense of excitement among the community.
Andexler is on Wadsworth Neighbors, which gives her an insight into what Wadsworth might expect from Just Eat The Cookie.
“We’re all about giving back to the community whenever we can, so, for me, it’s really exciting because I love getting to meet people, the returning customers, and the newbies,” Andexler said. “Being able to offer something that downtown hasn’t had the opportunity yet, with all the baking supplies that will be coming in and different unique tools. It’s exciting to be a part of our growing community.”
The store opened on Feb. 1 and is now extended to the public to shop for household items from Quaint and buy custom cookies from Just Eat The Cookie.
