By Megan Alley
Sun staff
A new tea room and bookshop has opened in New Richmond. Bound and Loose Leaf, located at 100 Front Street, offers a wide selection of domestic and imported teas, gourmet sandwiches, fresh soups and salads.
Bound and Loose Leaf is owned and operated by Cecilia Krusling and her daughters Jamie, 28, and Regina, 24. The family, who lives in Bethel, opened the Bound and Loose Leaf on July 4.
“Everyone that I’ve talked to in New Richmond is really excited that we’re here,” said Regina Krusling. “People have had nothing but positive things to say. The community here is really warm and welcoming.”
The family got the idea to start the tea room during last year’s Christmas shopping season.
“My mom was shopping at a consignment store on Front Street for a tea pot to give me,” Regina Krusling said. “The saleswoman told my mom that New Richmond needed a tea room, and that started her thinking.”
Regina Krusling, who earned an Associates Degree from the University of Cincinnati Clermont College in Secondary Education, was planning to attend Northern Kentucky University when her mom suggested opening the tea room.
“It all happened really quickly,” Regina Krusling said.
Early this year, the family purchased the building, previously the home of Buffalo Joe’s Burger & Wing Joint, and began working on renovations.
“I’ve been drinking tea since I was a little kid,” said Regina Krusling. “I just always loved tea.”
Bound and Loose Leaf carries a variety of teas, which they get from a supplier in Kentucky.
“Black currant is my favorite tea on our menu,” Regina Krusling.
“I love drinking tea and I enjoy the ritual of preparing tea,” she added. “I also like getting together with friends to drink tea.”
When it came to deciding on a menu to accompany the tea during lunch and early dinner hours, Regina Krusling said the choice was easy.
“I’m a sandwich person. I like sandwiches and most people like sandwiches. Most of our sandwiches come with bacon, and that can’t be bad,” Regina Krusling said.
Bound and Loose Leaf specializes in serving high tea, which is traditionally served at 4 p.m. with biscuits and finger sandwiches, according to Regina Krusling.
High tea at Bound and Loose Leaf is served anytime, and includes several courses of food.
“We do an Americanized version of high tea,” said Regina Krusling. “We serve a fruit cup, a specialty tea sandwich like cucumber or smaller portions of one of the sandwiches on our menu, an entrée and dessert.”
She added, “Customers should come hungry.
New and used books are also available for purchase at Bound and Loose Leaf.
“From the beginning, selling books was part of our business plan,” Regina Krusling said.
While the store has mostly used, in good condition books for sale, Regina Krusling said she is hoping to get in touch with publishers to expand the new book collection.
“We also welcome book donations,” she added.
While Bound and Loose Leaf has only been open for a short time, Regina Krusling said all the hard work her family put into opening the shop is already paying off.
“It’s exciting,” she said. “People say the place looks nice. They like the tea and they say the food is good. Plus, we have an amazing view of the [Ohio River].”
Bound and Loose Leaf is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday for high tea by appointment. To learn more about the tea room and book store, visit www.boundandlooseleaf.com.