Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Streeter.
Hi Nicole, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Having moved to Dundee from Ann Arbor in late 2017, in 2018 I joined the Dundee Farmer’s Market as a vendor as a way of getting to know people in the community.
At that time, my medium was handcrafted, hemp-based skin & body care, but after being diagnosed with a digestive disorder and having to accommodate new dietary restrictions, I started playing around in the kitchen, creating recipes and meals that were not only a feast for the stomach but also the eyes.
Anyone can prepare a meal. But I wanted to create an experience. And since we tend to “eat” with our eyes before we even take a bite, making dishes aesthetically pleasing to the eyes was just as important as making them pleasing to the palate.
Initially, when the idea came to me, I had planned to open a food truck. But when the space I’m in now became available, I took it as a sign and took a chance.
I had no formal culinary training, but my partner has a culinary degree and had spent the better part of the last decade working in a fast-paced kitchen on U of M’s campus. Additionally, I took a couple of culinary classes and got my Serve Safe Certificate, (something I think everyone in food service should have to have), and thus, The Apothecary Kitchen was born.
Due to having limited space, it was never my plan to offer dine-in service, so I modeled my space after some of my favorite walk-up/carry-out restaurants that I’d visited over the years.
Having weekend hours with a menu that changed weekly and with what is in season also gave me the flexibility I needed to be as sustainable as possible, which was really important to me, having spent the better part of the last decade paying back student loans. If I couldn’t afford to pay for something in cash, I didn’t buy it.
So, I started with next to nothing. Seeing as I’m a firm believer in quality over quantity, everything that rolls out of our tiny kitchen is made in small batches, with high-quality, fresh ingredients, that I’ve hand-picked and shopped for myself.
I have been blessed by an amazing community that has kept my local, small business up and running during an unprecedented time, with challenges and change unlike anything we’ve seen or experienced in our lifetime.
We’ve had people visit us from as far away as the UK, California, Florida, and Maine.
Whether you’re local, or visiting from afar, all are welcome. Every person that visits The Apothecary Kitchen is not just a customer, but our guest.
So, whether you’re stopping in for one of our signatures “Oh You Thiccc” brownies, or a cup of one of our house-made soups, salads, sandwiches, or wraps, every time you visit us there will always be something new!
In addition to our dining options, we also offer a cafe & coffee menu, catering and event services, and feature local artists and artisans in our front-of-house gallery space. Things like beautifully crafted pottery and kitchen accoutrema to gourmet and specialty foodstuffs, including a variety of gluten-free and vegan options are just some of the things you’ll find on any given day.
Our hours can be kind of sporadic, since it’s mainly just my husband and I, but we welcomed a wonderful young woman, Kalayla, to our TAK crew last summer and hope to add one or two additional employees to our TAK family this summer.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I was open just shy of six months when the pandemic started, so needless to say, I knew if my new, small business was going to survive, I needed a plan. So, after the initial shutdown, I created a website and adapted to an online ordering system, where customers could pre-order their selections online and pick up curbside or in-store on a specific day.
Since gatherings were discouraged, my plans to offer catering and event services were put on hold, but offering family meal options, along with pop-up specials helped keep us afloat
It took a while for people to catch on. Change is hard, and it’s natural for people to be hesitant and reluctant to try something that is outside of the “box” they are used to.
I’m not an overly tech savvy person, so it was challenging even for myself… it was definitely a learning process… and still is.
But, 3.5 years later, we are still here, so I figure we must be doing something right, right?
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Prior to opening TAK, I had no formal culinary experience. I have a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Michigan University in Criminology and Behavioral Analytics & Societal Ethics & Law.
But after working as a legal consultant for two and half years, my heart just wasn’t in it. I had been accepted to law school, but not wanting to take on 100k in debt as a new mom, I decided to take the severance I was offered when the economy flopped in 2008, and welcomed being a stay-at-home mom.
In 2009, I developed a blood clot in my lung and almost died. I had a reaction to one of the medications I was given, and it affected my regulatory and digestive system, leaving me to struggle with chronic nausea and anxiety. It was super scary, and left me in the predicament that I was no longer able to be reliable for a regular 9-5 job. So in the spirit of self-preservation, I started a little side hustle, my first business, Herbology Organics, and started making all-natural skin & body care items, selling my craft at Farmer’s Markets, Festivals and Artisan Markets & Fairs around the Midwest.
I was not only able to make my own hours, but it also allowed me to take my son along, while still bringing in a source of income.
I’ve participated in dozens of markets and fine art fairs, including the Ann Arbor Art Fair, and was invited to NYFW in 2013 where my products were added to Fashion Week’s swag bags for over three thousand guests.
I met so many interesting and amazing people, all of whom inspired me in some way and helped turn my side hustle into a self-sustaining business, with little to no advertising except through word of mouth.
Having now switched my medium to food, my principles still remain. Don’t spend more than you have, and character is everything.
Charcuterie Boards & Grazing Tables are my favorite. I love being able to incorporate my love for art & food into one, cohesive piece.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
We moved to Dundee from Ann Arbor five years ago. After living and working in the city for most of our lives, we were ready to downsize and wanted to move somewhere a little quieter and less chaotic.
Traffic is not my bag. It’s a different time then when I learned to drive many moons ago, and people drive crazy. I rarely take the highway, and take back roads, even if it adds time on to my trip, to avoid having to deal with drivers on the highway. Lol
I grew up in a small town, much like Dundee, on ten acres surrounded by farmland and forest. But Ive lived everywhere from one of the biggest, busiest cities in the country, to the middle of nowhere in the desert.
What drew us to Dundee more than anything was the location. It’s pretty much 25 minutes in any direction and you’ll hit a larger city. To the north Ann Arbor, south, Toledo.
Dundee has pretty much everything you need, and everything else is a quick car ride away. Except another grocery store. We could definitely use another one of those. Lol.
I don’t think anyone wants to see Dundee turn into a major hub, but we definitely need more family friendly activities. A mini golf course and splash pad or entertainment complex would be fantastic additions! The historic district downtown [Dundee] is lovely and charming. It’s a one block mixed use district that overlooks a beautiful backdrop of the river and the Old Mill Museum. Unfortunately, the pandemic and rising costs have forced several of the retail businesses to close, and or to seek residence elsewhere, so right now the downtown area is in desperate need of some revitalization.
I’m optimistic it will get there, but it truly does take a village, now more than ever.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.the-apothecary-kitchen.com
- Instagram: @theapothecarykitchen
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/theapothecarykitchn
