More Than a Café: Gnomie’s Woodland Fountain Creates Space for Connection in Concord

Gnomie’s Woodland Fountain grew out of Susan Riedl’s love of art, food, wellness, and bringing people together. Her vision for the Concord business combined a café and dry bar with board games, art workshops, events, and plenty of opportunities for people to connect.

Bringing all those pieces together took planning. Susan worked with NH SBDC business advisor Julie Glosner to sort through the details and develop a path forward.

Today, this unique spot is open in Concord, offering a welcoming place to meet up, try something creative, enjoy good food and drinks, or settle in for a board game.

A Personal Story Behind the Name

The name Gnomie’s has a story of its own.

After losing her mother during the pandemic, Susan wanted to create something positive that honored her memory. The name reflects her mother’s love of gnomes and wildflowers, Susan’s Eastern European roots, and her own family. Her grandchildren call her “Gnomie.”

The business also brings together many of Susan’s interests and experiences, including art therapy, culinary arts, wellness, and creative expression.

She envisioned the café as a “third space”, somewhere outside of home and work where people can spend time together in a relaxed setting that does not revolve around alcohol.

Something Different for Concord

There is plenty to explore once you walk through the door. The café has more than 120 classic and modern board games, along with a dry bar, art workshops, clubs, live music, trivia, and other events.

The dry bar serves botanical beverages and alcohol-free cocktails, as well as warm “muddy brews” made with ingredients such as cacao, ashwagandha, monk fruit, and locally sourced products.

The workshop calendar includes paint nights, wood-carving sessions, and tea-and-painting events. A retail area showcases work by local artists alongside non-alcoholic spirits. Susan is also expanding the menu with farm-to-table dishes, European-style baked goods, and Bavarian-inspired comfort foods.

The response from customers has reinforced Susan’s belief that Concord was ready for a space like this.

“There have been so many people who said, ‘I’ve been waiting for something like this,’” she said.

Turning a Big Idea Into a Business

With so many pieces to her vision, Susan knew she could benefit from another perspective. She connected with NH SBDC for help figuring out how to turn the concept into a sustainable business.

“I needed support. I needed networking. I needed honest feedback,” she said.

Over three years of working together, Susan and Julie transformed the idea into a workable plan. They mapped out financial projections, explored funding options, and took a realistic look at revenue and growth. They also developed a phased opening strategy that gave Susan room to learn what worked, make adjustments, and build the business thoughtfully.

For Susan, having an advisor alongside her throughout the process made a difference.

“Having the frequent check-ins, the follow-ups, the accountability… that’s what kept me moving forward.”

Julie’s guidance gave Susan a trusted place to talk through decisions, ask questions, and stay focused on the next step as her vision moved from an idea to an operating business.

What Comes Next

Susan has plenty more planned for Woodland Fountain. She is working to expand the food offerings and workshop calendar. She hopes to develop branded products that can be sold both in the café and elsewhere in the community.

For now, Susan hopes more people will walk through the door, explore the space, and experience what she has created for themselves.

“I want people to be courageous, take a risk, and be curious, just come try it.”

Learn more at www.gnomieswoodlandfountain.com