They Took Over a Bath Institution. They Knew Better than to Reinvent it.

Oct 14

When Vanessa and Heather became owners of Now You're Cooking in downtown Bath, they already knew the business, its customers, and the traditions that had kept people coming back for more than 25 years.

Vanessa had spent more than two decades at the independent kitchen store, having originally taken what she thought would be a temporary job. Heather joined the team roughly a decade ago, initially working part-time in marketing. Both grew up in the Bath area and developed a deep appreciation for the business, its customers, and its place in the community.

When founder Mike began considering retirement, the two women saw an opportunity to take the reins. They became partners and eventually purchased the business.

Their changes have been deliberate, not dramatic.

They've refreshed the branding, introduced new merchandise, and continued refining a product selection that reflects how people cook, entertain, and shop today. But they've also preserved the qualities that have made Now You're Cooking a downtown destination for more than 25 years.

For starters, the selection is impressive.

The store carries everything from professional-quality cookware and cutlery to table linens, serving pieces, specialty foods, and approximately 900 wines. A roughly 50-foot wall of kitchen gadgets is particularly popular, filled with practical tools, unusual finds, and gifts for people who seem to have everything.

One of the store's bestsellers is also one of its least expensive: a small, Polish-made kitchen scrubby that sells for about $3.99. The owners order them by the thousands.

But the merchandise is only part of the appeal.

Now You're Cooking has resisted the shift toward conventional online retail, choosing instead to focus on the in-person shopping experience. Its knowledgeable staff receives regular product training and helps customers understand what they're buying, whether it's a new knife, an espresso machine, or an investment piece of cookware.

The store also has a cooking school, where small groups gather for hands-on classes covering everything from handmade pasta and sushi to Mediterranean dishes and other international favorites. Participants prepare their meals together, then sit down to enjoy the results.

The store's wine department has become a destination in its own right, with monthly tastings, seasonal events, and a broad selection designed to accommodate different tastes and budgets.

For Vanessa and Heather, these experiences are part of what makes an independent retailer relevant.

They're also part of what makes downtown Bath special.

The women remain active in the local business community, supporting neighboring merchants, participating in downtown events, and giving customers reasons to visit year-round. While summer brings plenty of tourists, November and December are the store's busiest months, reflecting the loyalty they've built among year-round customers.

That loyalty extends to the store's annual bag sale, a much-anticipated tradition that brings shoppers through the doors and gives longtime customers another opportunity to reconnect with the people behind the counter.

It's an impressive following for a specialty retailer in a city of roughly 12,000 residents.

Visitors sometimes express surprise that a community Bath's size can support a kitchen store with such an extensive selection. But Now You're Cooking has never depended on population alone. Its success has been built on knowledgeable employees, carefully chosen products, and relationships that extend well beyond a single purchase.

And that's precisely what its new owners understood.

Vanessa and Heather have put their own stamp on Now You're Cooking, but they've been careful not to lose what made it successful in the first place.

More than 25 years after the store opened, they're proving that sometimes the smartest way to move a business forward is to know exactly what deserves to stay the same.

Famous For:
An extraordinary selection of kitchenware, knowledgeable service, hands-on cooking classes, and a shopping experience that keeps people coming back to downtown Bath.

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49 Front St, Bath, ME | nowyourecookingmaine.com