Good books. Good eats. Great work by one of our own.

Some people just have a hunger to do more. That’s certainly the case for our TCCS (Toppings, Creams, Culinary Solutions) Product Manager Kimberly Behzadi, MBA , who discovered an appetite for creating a bookstore focused on all things culinary. The result: Read It & Eat Bookshop, a haven for book lovers and foodies alike. Kim’s new venture is located in the West Side Bazaar, an eclectic food hall and marketplace just down the street from Rich’s global headquarters in Buffalo, New York.

At Read It & Eat Bookshop & Boxes , the shelves are stocked with cookbooks, chef memoirs and other food-focused reads. In case that stirs up some hunger, Kim also offers an array of artisanal treats like baking kits, sauces and spices. And with 17 neighbors in the Bazaar dishing out delicious cuisines from around the world, inspiration and satisfaction are never in short supply.

When asked about her plans for the shop, Kim said, “Buffalo is a city full of culinary adventurers, and I believe the community will love having a selection of curated cookbooks and goods at their fingertips. My goal is to also add cooking classes and collaborations with other businesses in the community.”

No stranger to the Buffalo food scene, Kim first set her place at the table amid the pandemic with her 2020 launch of the Read It & Eat book subscription boxes: quarterly offerings that feature different themes and include a book, snacks and other goods from small businesses. The Read It & Eat Bookshop is the next evolution of Kim’s food-focused ideation.

We’re proud to share that Kim’s also serving some extra goodness to our hometown community: a portion of all proceeds are donated to fight hunger in Buffalo.

Ready to treat yourself to all that’s on offer at Read It & Eat Bookshop? The store is now open on the second floor of 1432 Niagara Street in Buffalo on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.