A ribbon was cut to welcome Streetlight Take & Bake and The Charcuterie Shop to 2910 Commerce Drive in Bluffton, where they will be sharing space.
Streetlight Take & Bake is owned by Paula, Adam and Aaron Nuest. The company opened March 2020 in Van Wert, Ohio as a base kitchen for catering. Paula said once they opened the world shut down, so they focused on feeding those in quarantine and delivering meals to those in need. “We knew take and bake would be a popular option and started to focus our efforts to expand that part of the business. People are busy and most work or have families being pulled into different directions. Our goal is to get people out of the fast-food lines and back around the table with home-style cooking.”
The take and bake option started to increase in popularity and the family decided to open a storefront in Bluffton in July. “We have family here in Wells County and we felt that this community has the same flavor as Van Wert does with the focus of faith and family,” stated Paula. “The meals are easy to heat, servings can be as small as 4, can be frozen and heated up within three months.”
Each Wednesday, Paula has a blog and will offer giveaways and helpful information on their Facebook page. “This is a great way for us to get to know the community and for people to get to know us,” said Paula.
Paula said they prepare 1200-1600 servings a week with the Bluffton pickup being Wednesday’s between 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Weekly meals are listed on the Streetlight Take & Bake Facebook page to order.
Kylie Tomlin is the owner and creator of The Charcuterie Shop, which opened in 2021. Tomlin said she was looking for a creative outlet and a way to de-stress, which led into creating charcuterie boards as a side job. “This has been a lot of fun for me and the support the community has shown has allowed my business to grow.”
“It is no secret that food brings people together,” said Tomlin. “I know that when I make a board for someone it is bringing people together and it is often a centerpiece for connection. People are making memories, laughing and being together around food. That is why I started this business.”
Tomlin had been following other charcuterie businesses online and when she realized she needed a creative outlet, the dream became a reality. “Cheese is my favorite food and as charcuterie boards were becoming more popular, I decided this is what I wanted to do.”
“I can make individual gifts to spreads that feed up to 300 people,” explained Tomlin. “My largest charcuterie spread was 18 feet long. They can range anything from meat and cheese, to breakfast, desserts, veggies, and fruits.”
Tomlin is excited to have a storefront in Wells County to expand and serve customers. “I am shocked by the community support and how The Charcuterie Shop has grown here and into the surrounding communities,” stated Tomlin.
To order from The Charcuterie Shop, visit the website at thecharcuterieshop.biz to complete the form to capture all the information needed for Tomlin to create.
