The other day I drove past a new sign in town – actually, two new signs. One large flag read
“CAFÉ” and the second announced “COFFEE.” I heard a new coffee shop was opening in town but I hadn’t had time to check out just where it was, even though Wilton is no metropolis.
In the past, an announcement about a business set to open would be posted in a local daily
paper well ahead of time, along with ads reminding readers of where and when it would be
opening. Sadly, we are now living in a time when joining one online group or another to get many of these types of announcements is almost mandatory. Those who don’t subscribe to the correct online outlet or prefer their news in a printed form may miss these events.
Introducing Bean and Bloom in this column is my way of getting this information to anyone who missed it, along with the signage outside that has been a catalyst bringing people to the shop, including me. I chose a Saturday for my visit and was met by a steady stream of customers. Most of them told me they were first-time visitors. As hoped, the new signs are what prompted them to check out the café’s variety of coffee choices and ever-changing selection of home-made pastries, quiche and savory tarts made by owner, Gretchen Ferraiuolo, or by Lyndeborough-based Mama Bear Bakers who specialize in scones, muffins, donuts and cookies. I noted the Halloween-themed cookies that seemed the perfect enticement for young visitors and more than one adult visitor. Gretchen also reminded me that her daughter, Christine, bakes the homemade biscotti in the display cases.
The interior of the shop, with its newly constructed counter and new floor, transforms the
rooms into a series of spaces ideal for small to medium-sized gatherings. Gretchen painted the patterned floor after her husband, Bill, completed his carpentry work.
But you shouldn’t be misled. This shop is more than just a place to satisfy your taste buds. It can also satisfy your other senses. It’s in a space across from the fire station, formerly occupied by a flower shop. Part of the shop area is devoted to creating personalized floral arrangements made from individual flowers selected by Gretchen, “but we’re not part of FTD,” she added.
She continued, “I’ve created arrangements for many weddings. It’s something I love to do.” She also admitted to “working for years making wreaths for a company in New Boston.” Several of her wreaths line one wall in the room devoted to her floral arrangements and other artistic creations, many made by her aunt, Martha Green. Besides being a Wilton resident, Martha should be recognized as one of the artists who helped paint the horse and buggy mural on the side of the old Intervale Hardware Store building. Gretchen continued, “I’m continuing to offer a few specialty items from the previous business, and I’ve also added a few vases to the mix.”
During our conversation, I learned Gretchen lives in Lyndeborough but is just as likely to call both Wilton and Lyndeborough home. She initially intended to only take over the flower shop but soon realized she could do two things in one spot. Each business complements the other, with the bonus being that she has a chance to get to know more people. She told me, “I dreamed about adding a new business that would also be a boost to Wilton’s Main Street, while being a place where people would stay and linger. Besides this, I wanted to learn something new and be challenged, and it has certainly done that. I love it!”
At this point, the outer door opened and Noah Sanders and Christine Peluso, both of Wilton, stopped in for coffee and did just what Gretchen had hoped. They took seats at the far end of the shop, near where a small library is tucked into a corner nook. They were first-time visitors and happy to have found Bean and Bloom and a quiet place to sit and chat over their coffee.
Gretchen also keeps a selection of games and toys on hand to entertain children. It didn’t take long for just such a family to enter. Twins, Madeline and Maya Jimenez, brought both their father, Derek, and their Merrimack-based grandmother, Karen, to Bean and Bloom in celebration of the twins’ last day of seasonal soccer. They had just returned from Carnival Hill, and the girls proudly showed me their soccer team participation medals.
I asked about the people Gretchen has already met. Besides getting to know more locals, there are a few who she’ll remember for their helpful suggestions, including one who asked for cider. She now serves both hot mulled cider and cold cider. She added, “One group of guys on bikes came in and told me they go all over the place looking for new coffee shops every weekend. My first customers were a couple from Rhode Island who were lost. They ended up making some very helpful suggestions that I’ve incorporated.”
While people were ordering their coffee, I watched Gretchen handle the large cappuccino
machine. She said, “It was a real find we purchased from a craftsman who refurbishes older
machines. My husband found this guy through a friend.”
In response to my final question, “Now that you’ve been open for a few months, how do you feel it’s going?” She replied, “I enjoy the pace it’s at now. I want to keep it simple; a place people will enjoy visiting for a long time.”