The smell of good, home-cooked food wafts through the air the moment the door opens at Thyme in the Kitchen.
Nestled along West Franklin Street, the shop owned by Marcia Jochem offers a mix of out-of-the-ordinary kitchen gadgets, top-brand cookware for every kitchen, homey décor and gift items, and cooking classes open to the public. Jochem and her sister Ruth Richmond, general manager of the store, strive to stock Thyme in the Kitchen with items customers cannot find at other stores.
“We turn over product quite a bit,” says Jochem. “We attend markets around the country and look for distinctive pieces that will be unique for our customers and their homes.”
A former executive at Berry Plastics for many years, Jochem found herself in unique, local stores during traveling trips and realized she wanted her own interesting business on the West Side.
After researching other stores, Jochem bought and converted a former office building at 2308 W. Franklin St. into Thyme in the Kitchen. Her specialty kitchen store offers brands such as Le Creuset and Swiss Diamond. The home décor and gift selection presents many options for wedding registries, personalized gifts, and more.
“We have an awesome and knowledgeable staff that makes every customer feel special,” says Jochem. “They enjoy helping customers find the right kitchen tool, home accent item, or gift.”
At the back of the shop, a furnished kitchen houses cooking classes taught by local and guest chefs. Menus from classes range from unique recipes to everyday foods made in different ways. Depending on the type of class, participants can get hands-on cooking experience or sit back and let the chefs guide them through the process.
“We have about 20 classes a month on average,” says Richmond. “We try to stay in or ahead of seasons and offer date night, girls night out, lunch-and-learn sessions, and kids classes each month.”
Over the last four years, Jochem and Richmond say the community is what they love most about their store. From meeting new people and greeting old friends to giving back to the Tri-State, the sisters enjoy being a part of West Franklin, Evansville, and the area’s local shopping scene.
“I enjoy meeting people who have similar passions for food,” says Richmond.
For more information about Thyme in the Kitchen, call 812-437-2726 or visit thymeinthekitchenevv.com.