Honeygirl Gourmet Dares to dream big

by D.E. Bentley –

Stepping into Honeygirl Gourmet, 61 Main Street in Geneseo, NY, is like stepping into an interactive art space. Light streams in through the large bay windows and reflects off the red walls, and off the sign that hangs behind the counter above the racks of chocolate that catch my attention.

Behind the counter during my first visit, during every visit into this attractive and inviting retail space, is Alyssa Cope, proprietor and dream maker.  There is no hint in our interaction or in the kinetic and welcoming feel of the store – with it’s eclectic array of offerings – that a fire had ravaged an earlier store space (now an expansion for the recently reopened Kelly’s Saloon) just three months after Honeygirl Gourmet first opened its doors.

Honeygirl’s new space in Geneseo was a complete redo, and a fresh start. Many people in a similar situation might have not moved forward, but the fire that took her first store space increased Cope’s determination. Rather than seeing it as a set back, she saw it as a new pallet.

Being able to find a new location right on Main Street helped in the rebuilding process. She also had the support of the people closest to her, customers, and many supportive fellow merchants. Two of Cope’s most steadfast supporters are her boyfriend, Blake Burnette, “an exceptionally talented and detailed oriented contractor who told me, ‘if I could dream it, he could do it,’ and her mother, Jacqueline Cope, an inspiring and reaffirming presence – with forty years of interior design experience.

Together this trio, with the help of friends and family, gutted the store’s interior and created a totally new space. Looking around the store, it is difficult to believe that Cope had ever doubted her interior design direction. As with any artist, she had a specific ‘feel’ that she knew she wanted to achieve. She also battled a lingering fear, as she picked out colors, materials and fixtures to fill the interior space, that she could not fully realize in life the image she had in her head. Once she got going, things fell into place. “I found it to be a highly intuitive process where I would simply “know” that something was right for the space. There were a few moments where I was nervous that I would not be able to recreate what I pictured in my head, but both my mother and boyfriend were very reassuring and supportive.”

As far as running the business, Cope’s past experience was a significant factor contributing to her success – she had worked at Touch of Grayce, a Main Street mainstay, since 1999. Her extensive retail experience helped prepare her for the “day to day logistics of running a business,” and years of living in the area and a love of specialty shops helped her define what goods she would carry.

Even with this background, she still spent many hours doing research and planning, utilizing both the Small Business Development Center (located on the SUNY Geneseo campus) as well as the Livingston County Development Center, assets she would highly recommend to anyone looking to start or grow a business. Cope wrote and revised her business plan several times before she felt confident enough to move forward. She believes a concrete business plan is crucial for anyone starting or growing a business. “The structure of the business plan allows you to clarify your thoughts and vision for your business, while forcing you to focus on the real logistics and financial realities.”

Her first goal was to fill the shelves with gourmet foods, which are good for you and make “fantastic gifts.” She chooses food products that are “delicious with a focus of quality over quantity.” She also looks for products with recognizable, rather than “mystery,” ingredients. She applies this same principle to body care products, such as soap, lip balm and lotions. Honeygirl Gourmet’s specialty products include infused olive oils and vinegars, dips, sauces and marinades and a wide selection of other food and non-food items, perfect for gourmet gift baskets. In filling the shelves and baskets, Cope looks to local producers and smaller companies that “do one thing and do it well.”

Although planning and research are crucial components, Cope believes that having an “unwavering passion for what you are doing is essential to opening your own business.” She said that she knew the store was right for her because, “all the hours that I spent preparing never felt like work.” They were filled with energy and the “quiet calm of knowing that I was headed in the right directio

n.”

What was most surprising and reassuring for Cope was that these feelings did not wane after the fire. Instead, the tragedy strengthened her resolve to “make the second store even better than the first.” In sharing what she has learned with others, she says, “you will find yourself working more than you ever have before. If you’ve found the right thing, however, your work will be filled with joy, even during the exhausting and frustrating moments.”

Even with all the work Cope has put into making her dream a reality, she knows that she could not have done it alone. In addition to her mother and boyfriend – “My beautiful shop would not have been possible without them” – she is also thankful for the Geneseo community and all the customers that have supported her business over the past two years.

Many people would settle in at this point, relax and enjoy the space they have created through hard work and perseverance. For Cope, the store is one step in her plan. As we talked about her business direction, she share with me that her “dreams have gotten bigger.” How big? That we will leave to the dream maker, but for now includes a summer opening of a second Honeygirl Gourmet location.

Cope is already hard at work on the new store space, “enjoying the process of creating a space that is welcoming, makes people feel comfortable and happy when they walk in the door.” The store – scheduled to open early July – is in Northfield Commons (50 State Street, Pittsford, NY), right next to Schoen place along the Erie Canal. The store will “have a similar vibe to the Geneseo shop,” but features a larger floor space that will allow her to carry an expanded variety of both specialty foods and gifts.   As with the Geneseo store, Cope wants the “ambiance of the space to be part of the shopping experience, and part of what makes people come back.”

Cope also loves the walkability (and dog friendly) nature of the new location, along with its proximity to “free parking, lots of great shops, restaurants, a wine bar and a brewery.” The area intersects with bike trails and Northfield Commons hosts the Pittsford Farmers Market on Saturdays, from 9 AM to 1 PM. Alyssa Cope’s hope is “that people will enjoy the addition of Honeygirl Gourmet” and that she “can add something positive to that community.” Based on her early dream creation in Geneseo, and the contribution she has made there, she needn’t wonder.

To learn more about Honeygirl offerings and progress at the new store, visit http://www.honeygirlgourmet.com or like them on Facebook @honeygirlgourmet.