Written by Isabella Aranda Garcia
What is the first thing you do when you open for the day?
Turn on the coffee machine! That is what most people are interested in at that time of the morning.
What’s one thing your customers don’t know you do behind the scenes?
We run the entire oHHo business from the Old Firehouse so in addition to making our space work, we run our wholesale drinks business and, until very recently, all of our ecommerce orders were shipped from the Old Firehouse; we are very grateful for the Bedford Post Office.
If there were an award for your daily routine, what would it be called?
“Be More Dan.” Dan is one of our colleagues and he is always doing something, checking things are good—when you are in a space like the Old Firehouse, there is always something to do.
What’s something you’ve gotten better at every year?
As we have just been open for 18 months, it’s tricky to say but we are constantly re-investing in our space and our environment to make it better and more inviting.
What’s one item you always have on hand?
A tape measure.
What’s something you do that seems small but makes a huge difference?
Branded cups. So many people photograph our coffee and matcha at oHHo, and it’s super marketing for the company and shows that we put a little extra effort as to how things look on our side—there is no excuse for things to look dreary.
What was your “I made it” moment?
We make merch every year and we try to make merch that lasts and that you would actually want to wear. James was walking down the street in an oHHo sweatshirt and someone shouted out “oHHo! I LOVE oHHo.” That’s a magic feeling that never goes away, when someone you don’t know knows the brand.
Tell us about your favorite local spot.
We are very partial to a takeout from Br’ers. It is tiny and has fantastic fried chicken. It’s the perfect treat after a long day.
What northern Westchester business do you secretly (or not so secretly) love?
Footsie in Mount Kisco—Sophie and I have been known to have to go to Footsie for an ‘executive meeting’ there from time to time
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing instead?
I would be gardening and James would be dj’ing / mountain biking or washing his car.
What’s the best advice you ever received?
We have had a lot of great advice but my favorite is “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
How do you celebrate a big win?
We are usually just focused on the next one—this question is a great reminder to celebrate more often!
Describe your business in three words.
Plants with benefits.
If your business had a theme song, what would it be?
“Running Down A Dream” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
What’s the funniest customer request you’ve ever received?
Someone once asked us if we would start serving seabass and brussel sprouts… without a kitchen that would be a lift! I did recommend Bedford 234 and The Bedford Post Inn as super options.
What’s your business’s unofficial motto?
#TEAMWORKMAKESTHEDREAMWORK
What’s your dream customer reaction?
When someone says that they love coming to oHHo—that never gets old.
What’s something your business does differently than anyone else?
I don’t think we do anything differently but we do try to collaborate, which is exciting. We most recently worked with The Ticking Tent to bring their fantastic event to Bedford.
What’s the smallest detail your customers notice—or that you hope they notice?
James is obsessive about experience and, in particular, how things smell. We pump a fragrance through our HVAC and people often comment about how great it smells at oHHo—which we love.
What’s the one thing your business couldn’t function without?
Our people and our partners. Our people are just blockbuster, and our partners, “The Pizza Girls,” is another local Bedford business that makes it all happen. The company is nothing without them.
What’s one thing people often say when they first walk in?
“I used to work here when it was a firehouse!”
What’s the unsung hero of your business?
The coffee machines.
What’s a word or phrase customers often use to describe your business—and do you agree?
“I like it, what is it?” We are pretty limited as to what we can do at The Old Firehouse in Bedford for a number of reasons and to make historic buildings feel great they usually need to have more than one thing going on—oHHo is our flagship store but more than that, it’s experiential retail, pizza and a cafe all combined. Some people are not so familiar with that concept so it takes a minute to wrap your head around it.
What is your most popular item?
oHHo products followed closely by pizza and matcha!
What is something you wish more people knew about your business?
One of our partners is The Pantry (formerly Mount Kisco Food Pantry); they’re a fantastic local organization dealing with food insecurity. oHHo and The Pizza Girls donate a percentage of the proceeds from every pizza sold to them. They are an incredible local organization and if you read to the end of this article, please make a donation!
Address: 34 Village Green, Bedford, NY 10506
Phone number: (914) 810-7686
Website: weareohho.com
This article was published in the January/February 2026 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
To view all 2026 Connect to the Best winners, click here.
Isabella Aranda is a designer, writer and social media specialist with an M.A. in emerging media from the New Media Institute at the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication. Driven by curiosity and inspired by timeless modern design, she blends creativity and strategy to craft compelling narratives that engage diverse audiences.
Her expertise spans digital marketing, content creation and UX design, with notable achievements such as co-creating the Georgia On Your Mind podcast and leading digital campaigns that significantly boosted engagement. A Venezuelan immigrant, Isabella brings a multicultural perspective to her work, enhancing her ability to connect with and inspire others.
