Bren Isgitt always had a knack for business and a love of cooking. Even at a young age, she dreamed of owning her own business one day. She knew she was willing to work hard to achieve this dream, but she wasn't expecting the many challenges she'd encounter along the way.
Born and raised on a dairy farm in Colorado City, Texas, Isgitt spent her free time helping with the farm and participating in 4-H cooking classes. At the same time, she watched her father run Bodine Bros. Dairy with integrity and honesty that inspired her to follow his lead.
She attended Texas Tech University in the 1970s, where she was one of few women in the business school, sparking her perseverant spirit as she broke through the stereotypes of the age. As soon as she graduated, she dove headfirst into her family's first business venture: a clothing store. For many years, she served her family, helped run the store, and settled into life, all the while holding on to her dream of business ownership.
It wasn't until 1998, at age 45, that Isgitt took her first big leap into the business world. She and a friend decided to purchase Kiss the Cook, a small kitchen supply store in Abilene, located in a strip mall with only 800 square feet of space. The friends-turned-business-owners quickly got to work to make improvements, wanting their store to feel familiar, where customers could find exactly what they're looking for. Understanding that her customers deserve the very best, Isgitt personally vetted every product on her shelves, never wanting to sell something she didn't believe in.
Within just three years, Kiss the Cook's new business model and success necessitated a bigger space, so she and her business partner began looking outside of Abilene. They ended up in Wimberley, just outside Dripping Springs, where they fell in love with the town. Isgitt recalls how some of their community back in Abilene worried they wouldn't survive. "But they don't know the Hill Country," Isgitt says now. Although it was hard to push through the negativity, their belief in themselves carried them through.
They bought a 1940s house right on the Wimberley Square (interestingly, it used to be the home of the town's switchboard operator during WWII) and began six months of renovations. In the meantime, they packed the Abilene location into a moving van and trekked it down to Wimberley. Finally, in October 2001, Kiss the Cook opened its doors and once again met with immediate success.
This success meant they were able to open a second storefront in Boerne five years later, after renovating yet another old home. Isgitt was definitely living out her business-owner dreams, reaping the rewards of patience and tenacity. However, managing two thriving store locations is no easy task; not wanting to scale back, they decided the best move was to split their ventures, each taking over one store. So in 2014, Isgitt retained ownership of the Wimberley location, while her business partner took over the Boerne store.
This was a pivotal moment for Isgitt: "That was the first time I didn't have someone to lean on," she says. She knew she'd either make it or she wouldn't, and it would all depend on her. Her business savviness proved itself as her store gradually doubled its revenue in the years following the split. Since then, Isgitt has continued to run Kiss the Cook, keeping up the homey, personal atmosphere that her customers have come to expect when they walk through the door.
Kiss the Cook is a great place to visit to solve cooking problems, correct recipe mistakes, and be challenged by new methods with the staff's help. Dean Chambers, who trained as a chef in Italy and has 16 years of experience in the restaurant business, manages the shop. All of the staff members have cooking knowledge and experience, and they can advise on the best cookware, cutlery, and gadgets as well as techniques, knife skills, and proper use of tools.
Even now, at age 72, Isgitt is still thriving. "It's never been a drudgery for me," she says. "Not many people get to work in their passions." These days, she no longer works in the store, preferring to handle the business side of things, while Chambers makes sure Kiss the Cook continues going strong.
Looking back, Isgitt is grateful to God for making her dreams a reality, and is even on the lookout for more opportunities for her-with Isgitt in charge, it's sure to be a shining success.
KissTheCookWimberley.com | @kissthecookwimberley
Article by Molly Maller
Photography by Lauren Clark
Originally published in Dripping Springs City Lifestyle