Two entrepreneurs are combining their offerings in Oakwood with plans to open a new store later this spring.
Shoppe Smitten owner Leslie Moss and Ordinarie Fare owner Katie Matthews recently acquired a 2,600-square-foot space in Oakwood to expand their businesses in the Dayton market.
As a pair of old friends in business, the two said their cross-over concept between Moss’ home goods and clothing with Matthews’ food brand felt natural with a similar customer base and aesthetics.
The two shop owners have different entrepreneurial backgrounds.
Moss currently operates two Shoppe Smitten locations in Springboro, making this expansion her third.
Matthews is dipping her toes into the waters of her first physical location, branching out of the Oakwood Farmers' Market where she has sold her products for the last two years.
Ordinarie Fare, a plant-forward food brand, sells hand-made snacks and meals. Matthews said she started the business to fulfill a niche in the community, offering gluten- and dairy-free food items made with no refined oils and sugars. The impossibility of cross contamination is both a relief and a highlight for customers, she said.
Within its new space, the brand will offer a grab-and-go menu with new items not previously available at the farmers' market.
Founded in 2018 and rebranded in late 2019, Matthews kicked up her business amid the pandemic. She found a stronger customer base with her online orders and subscription services. After considering where and how Ordinarie Fare could reach its next level, Moss offered her a solution with space in her new shop.
Matthews gravitated toward Moss as a business partner, considering her a strong female business owner and someone she looked up to.
Moss said her entrepreneurial spirit comes from her parents who operated Dingleberry's Music Store in downtown Dayton for 30 years. Around 2015, Moss started Shoppe Smitten to sell clothing, accessories and gift items. During the pandemic she opened her second location, Smitten Home, selling home goods.
Shoppe Smitten’s portion of the new location will offer a combination of both stores’ offerings with larger furniture pieces to be more exclusive in Oakwood.
Both Moss and Matthews saw a shift in their businesses during the pandemic, attributing it to the region’s efforts to support local businesses and one another through gift or care package purchases. The owners said they feel confident in their new endeavor and are excited to cater more heavily to those near Oakwood.
“I just love creating like a magical little space for people to feel like it's their happy place and just being like a bright, light, bright space in the community,” Moss said.
Matthews' path into entrepreneurship started small. She began selling granola bars inside Shoppe Smitten and branched into online sales and the farmers' market.
“If you have a dream in the long term, and the end goal feels so overwhelming, start small and do something,” Matthews said. “It's not even about reaching that end goal. It's truly about just wanting to do something that makes you happy and making food made me happy.”
One day, Matthews said she hopes to open her own local restaurant, but for now she said she’s happy to wait and enjoy the journey. Overall, she said she’s satisfied not having the future of Ordinarie Fare set in stone.
The new location is anticipated to begin construction in February, incorporating aesthetic changes such as dressing rooms and light fixtures as well as a commercial kitchen and food counter.
The owners expect to open in April. The Oakwood Shoppe Smitten and Ordinarie Fare location will be at 2316 Far Hills Ave. between Goodwill and Blue Turtle Toys.
The new location will continue to house Matthews’ two part-time workers and Moss’ six workers, some of whom will move from part time to full time across her three locations.
