Simply Blooming owner Lisa Eikamp, left, and employee Kirstan Jans, right, present during the inaugural ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ program at the Traer Public Library, Wednesday, Sept. 16. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – It was a neighborly day at the Traer Public Library on Wednesday, Sept. 16, as roughly a dozen folks gathered in the Talen Community Room for a new monthly program called “Won’t You Be My Neighbor.”

“I’m excited about this program because it’s about Traer and surrounding area people,” library programming director, Laurie Schafer told the newspaper ahead of the inaugural event which featured downtown Traer floral and gift shop Simply Blooming and the shop’s east room neighbor, The Hidden Kitchen. “I think many older individuals, who mostly attend the (library’s) daytime programs, don’t know about the updates at Simply Blooming and the other people I have scheduled.”

For the foreseeable future, Schafer plans to hold one Won’t You Be My Neighbor program per month in hopes of broadening the appeal of new businesses, while also showcasing changes and updates to established businesses like Simply Blooming which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, owner Lisa Eikamp told the library audience.

“It is so important to shop local. We really need you to stay here. A couple of years ago, I was really close to closing,” Eikamp shared at one point during the Wednesday presentation while standing beside her shop’s No. 2, Kirstan Jans.

“We don’t have an online shop where we ship out of the state or to other towns,” Jans said, following up Eikamp’s comments. “So every dollar we make comes from people calling or coming into the store. So our community, we wouldn’t survive without it.”

Hannah Borah, right, with The Hidden Kitchen speaks Sept. 16 at the Traer Public Library as part of the inaugural ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ program. Borah’s parents’ new restaurant, The Hidden Kitchen, is housed in the east room of Simply Blooming, downtown Traer’s longtime floral and gift shop owned by Lisa Eikamp, far left. Also pictured, Simply Blooming’s Kirstan Jans, center. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“Even if you don’t have the money to buy something, tell your friends (about Simply Blooming). Share a post on Facebook,” Eikamp said.

“Just getting the word out (is helpful),” Jans added.

During the last two years, Simply Blooming, located at 518 Second Street in downtown Traer, has undergone a transformation of sorts. While the shop continues to be a full-service floral and gift shop – including custom bouquets and arrangements, grab-and-go bunches, potted plants, wedding and memorial flowers – Eikamp now offers cafe items.

“We offer hot drip coffee right now but we’re working on getting an espresso machine. We offer energy drinks. We have (zero-sugar, zero-calorie) Alani (Nu energy) drinks. … We also offer a healthier version of an energy drink that is made from green tea,” Eikamp said. “They’re really popular with the younger crowd. They’ve got a lot of caffeine in them, though. Your average cup of coffee has like 90 milligrams of caffeine, whereas these have 200. So they’re gonna get you going! Don’t drink them anytime after 3 p.m.”

Cafe offerings also include cold brew coffee plus plenty of mix-ins, like creams and cold foams. Currently, Jans said pumpkin spice, Scotcheroo, Fluffernutter (peanut butter and toasted marshmallow), cookie butter, and a vanilla/maple/cinnamon combination have been popular drink flavors at the shop.

Simply Bloom’s website – which itself underwent a refresh recently courtesy of Bradley Solutions LLC, another downtown Traer business – describes the cafe offerings as “the best little pit stop on Second Street.”

“Somewhere between the boots and the bouquets, we started making and stocking the things people kept wishing we had: fresh-poured iced coffee, cold energy drinks, and seasonal snacks worth the detour,” the website states.

In addition to the expected floral offerings, Eikamp said they also offer bulk flowers.

“So if you have an event where you’re needing a lot of flowers, you don’t have to go to Sam’s Club. You can come to us. We can do discounted bulk orders.”

Simply Blooming also offers custom private parties and classes.

“We can literally do it all, from a wreath to a floral arranging,” Eikamp said.

On top of all that, Simply Blooming offers the increasingly popular bouquet/flower bars, which, according to the website, are “part workshop, part party, all petals. Lisa sets the bar, you and your people build something beautiful – for the wedding, the big dance, or just because it’s Tuesday.”

In terms of gifts, the shop offers a variety of unique items.

“We try really hard to have things you won’t find everywhere,” Eikamp said before Jans recommended folks check out their selection of Geometry towels.

“They’re not your average kitchen towel,” Jans explained. “They’ve got a different texture and the designs are so fun. Those have been pretty popular. We’ve got some fall ones out right now. If you’ve been looking for some kitchen towels, I would recommend them.”

‘We go hand in hand’

Also presenting as part of Wednesday’s program was Hannah Borah with Simply Blooming’s own neighbor, The Hidden Kitchen, housed in the east room of Eikamp’s building. The restaurant features breakfast all day, made from scratch by Borah’s stepdad/bonus dad, Mike Renslow.

“I am here on behalf of my parents (Mike and Meghan Renslow) for The Hidden Kitchen. We opened a couple of months ago, May 2026. So we’re pretty brand new. The idea for (The Hidden Kitchen), though, is not new,” Borah said as part of her introduction. “Growing up, my entire life, (Mike) worked construction and construction can be a pretty miserable job. But his dream was always to own a food truck … (A few months ago), Lisa came to my stepdad, who thought (a restaurant) was a great idea, and here we are.”

Borah said The Hidden Kitchen by and large serves “a bunch of American classics” from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays).

“You can come to us for all-day breakfast and lunch. So if you want pancakes at 2 p.m., or a patty melt at 7 o’clock in the morning – whatever special he’s got going – we can get you either way.”

With the K-12 crowd, Borah said her stepdad’s toasted PB&J has been immensely popular. The restaurant’s affordability has also been a draw.

“None of our items are over ($12). We try to give you a bang for your buck because our portion sizes are also considerable. … It’s really hard to leave us hungry. If you do, then, clearly, you weren’t here with us long enough.”

While the seating at The Hidden Kitchen is limited, per Borah’s own admission, the restaurant operates a robust carryout business in tandem with a dozen places to sit across two tables, which can be configured into whatever combination necessary. “Say you come in with a group of eight people after church. You can combine those tables and make them all yours,” Borah explained.

During her remarks, Borah also touched on The Hidden Kitchen’s relationship with Simply Blooming.

“We go hand in hand,” she said. “Our food items pair really, really well. … You really can’t beat this situation we have going on here. It’s been the most beautiful relationship. Two small town shops supporting each other. … We work together, it’s the best way to survive.”

Upcoming programs

Next month’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor program will feature nurse practitioner Carlee Feisel, a 2017 North Tama alumna, and her new business, Glow with the Flow IV Therapy, which offers mobile services out of two spa locations in Dysart and Batavia. Feisel will present Wednesday, Oct. 21, beginning at 2 p.m. in the Talen Community Room.

November’s speaker is still a work in progress as of presstime. In December, the library will not hold a program due to the busyness of the holiday season, Schafer told the newspaper.

For more information on Simply Blooming, check out the business’s website, simplybloomingtraer.com. Store hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; closed Sundays.

Information on The Hidden Kitchen can also be found on Simply Blooming’s website by visiting simplybloomingtraer.com/the-hidden-kitchen.

Whether you’re local to Traer or must travel from afar, it’s always a beautiful day in the Simply Blooming neighborhood.