About Us

Honeycomb Kitchen Shop is a locally owned retail store and e-commerce site started by two longtime friends, Melissa Turpin and Dana Smith.  Our shop specializes in high quality cooking tools, utensils, cookware, and other carefully curated kitchen supplies.  Honeycomb Kitchen Shop carries many local and regional products as well. By collaborating with local culinary talent, we offer classes and events to educate and inspire home cooking. 

Melissa Turpin is originally from Des Arc, Arkansas, and attended the University of Central Arkansas where she graduated with a degree in Public Relations.  She moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2008.  Before opening Honeycomb Kitchen Shop, Melissa worked for two large corporations and specialized in national account management, supply chain, and logistics.  She is married to her wonderful husband, Chase, and they have one son (John), two rescue dogs (Maggie and Hugo) and one cat (Sage) that keep the family constantly entertained!  Melissa is from a family of foodies who have always enjoyed cooking, trying new foods, and just eating in general.  She enjoys traveling, going to concerts, and crafting (although crafting is a recent development and sometimes tests her patience).

Dana Smith grew up in Southeastern Pennsylvania, but relocated to very rural Bee Branch, Arkansas, with her family during high school.  She also attended University of Central Arkansas (where she and Melissa became fast friends and sorority sisters!) where she earned a degree in Environmental Science.  After college, she and her husband Scott relocated to Virginia for several years where she attended University of Virginia and received her Master's Degree in Urban and Environmental Planning with an emphasis on food systems.  Dana spent over ten years working in education, most recently as the Environmental Education Specialist for Fayetteville Public Schools, before committing full time to Honeycomb Kitchen Shop.  When she isn't at the shop, Dana loves to spend time with her two daughters (Jada and Ashlynn), in her garden, out on the trails, or hanging with her backyard chickens, rabbits, and two ornery dogs.