Today we’d like to introduce you to Becky Ohm.
Hi Becky, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My husband John and I decided to open the shop after moving back to Perrysburg. We were both in the military and traveled and lived in many places. We were excited to plant some roots and be involved in our community. We decided to open The Flying Joe on January 19th of 2007 in Levis Commons. Soon after opening, the recession hit, and we had very little business. It was a tough time because businesses were closing all around us. We were stubborn and persistent and weathered many storms throughout our 17 years of business. We have now added a 2nd location in the heart of downtown Toledo. It was always a dream of mine to be a gathering place for the community. After struggling through covid, we saw an increase in business. It was incredible to see how our community supported our local business. During that time, we realized how much our little shop had grown and decided to renovate the space next to us, which was almost 3 times bigger. Knowing how much our overhead would increase was nerve-racking, but I was ready to take a gamble on it. Once again, the community came out in droves to visit our newer and much bigger coffee shop. We have seen so much growth in our more extensive shop in less than a year, which is truly unique. We recently were awarded the #5 best local coffee shop by USA Today. We were so honored to receive this; it has been one of the highlights of our year!
THIS IS FROM A PRESS RELEASE:
As Air Force pilots, The Ohms were no strangers to pressure, and entrepreneurship seemed like a breeze. However, since opening, they have added three kids to their family, fought through breast cancer, flown the ups and downs of the economy, and now continue to pour the best coffee in town through year two of a pandemic. While still less pressure than flying a jet, The Flying Joe owners are a shining example of how to remain flexible, adaptive, and fluid in operating a successful
business.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road at all! After we opened, the recession hit, and it was a tough time for many businesses. We saw several of them close; it was a scary time. It took several years after that to bounce back, but we stuck with it. Many things popped up, like construction on the highway right in front of our shopping center. There was a water emergency that shut us down for several days. Of course, Covid was a considerable struggle. We made it through those tough months, and we are doing better.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Flying Joe. For our readers who might not be as familiar with the brand, what can you tell them about it?
We are a veteran-owned company. Our number one priority is to our guests. We pride ourselves on a great customer experience. We specialize in unique espresso-based drinks, organic loose-leaf teas, hand-crafted cocktails, killer scratch-baked pastries, and a fantastic food menu! Our quiches are amazing! We recently moved into our new space in June of 2023 and increased our menu. We are proud of our latest renovation with an Art Deco and aviation theme. We are also happy to receive the #5 best independent coffee shop in the country from USA Today. It is quite an honor. We create new and creative specialty menus, whether seasonal or themed weekend. We have a blast making these drinks and food items. We also have quite the catering menu and rent our spaces for bridal & baby showers, graduation parties, and work events.
What changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Many consumers are moving towards independently owned coffee shops. We will also see a more food-forward menu than your standard bagels and cookies. We offer beer, wine, and cocktails, which we take time to create for our seasonal menus. Offering these items will be more popular than in the past. We also provide mocktails, which more people are shifting towards.
Contact Info:
- Website: theflyingjoe.com
- Instagram: theflyingjoe
- Facebook: theflyingoe
Image Credits
Kara Watson
