Look sharp, Maplewood. Artisan knife maker Nate Bonner and co-owner and CEO Melody Noel plan to open a production and retail space for nationally recognized NHB KnifeWorks. When it opens on July 8 at 7328 Manchester Road, the space will house production and retail facilities with regular business hours, a new perk for the 4-year-old business.
“I’m excited for ability to have a place where people can come,” Bonner said. “It’s now a huge dilemma to make an appointment.”
In addition to the regular hours, the new shop will have a production area with a viewing window, like an open-kitchen concept restaurant. Bonner has plans to expand his wood-processing capabilities with the addition of an outdoor kiln, where he will dry and age wood for knife handles onsite. He is sourcing the burled wood from a west St. Louis County farm. He also plans to collaborate with a Maplewood-based leather craftsman to sell custom leather pieces like knife rolls, as well as working with a silversmith for handle inlays.
He also will create new lines of knives at different price points. “I want to be a destination for cooks and chefs and also for hobbyist knife makers,” he said.
This article appears in May 2016.