Meet Melissa Turpin of Honeycomb Kitchen Shop

Melissa Turpin has always loved to cook, and when she and longtime friend Dana Smith were bouncing around ideas of businesses they could start together, they sat down to a home-cooked dinner one night—and decided on a kitchen store.

Honeycomb Kitchen Shop is completely different from big-box retailers, Melissa says. “We wanted it to be something that could be a part of the community and would support other local artisans. We really wanted to inspire people to get back into their kitchens.”

And inspire it does. Honeycomb has a large section of products from locals and artisans from around Arkansas—and all over the world. There’s live-edge cutting boards from a gentleman who lives in Rogers—you can even see the knots in the natural wood—and black walnut rolling pins from a man in Fayetteville. Placemats, heat-resistant pot handle holders, recipe cards … and pepper jelly.

“It’s a top item,” Melissa says. “People come in here looking for it.”

Deb’s Gourmet Pepper Jelly is also sold on the shop’s website, which promotes events and classes held at the store in addition to offering items for out-of-towners to purchase. Classes change often and range from making pasta to decorating cookies to mixology; there’s even a cooking class for kids.

“We really like that downtown Rogers is growing so much, and we feel like we fit in,” Melissa says. “It’s a supportive community for people trying to live their dream.”

Rogers is “kind of a mecca” for its restaurants and culinary talents, Melissa says. She recently discovered Havana Tropical Grill, a Cuban restaurant located in downtown that “you’re gonna miss if you’re not looking for it.” Then there are the classics like Parkside Public in downtown Rogers.

Then there are the opportunities for shopping—which most people are doing if they’re downtown. At Urban Bath & Body Company, shoppers can create their own body lotions and salt scrubs. For those not interested in shopping, downtown’s Rogers Historical Museum is family-friendly and interactive, with exhibits ranging from Grandma’s Attic to a caboose exploring Rogers’ railroad history (there’s also an exhibit on local crime stories for the older set). And people love the Daisy Airgun Museum in Rogers thanks to the “you’ll shoot your eye out” scenes from the movie “A Christmas Story.”