BEXLEY, Ohio (WCMH) — After 10 years of running The Bexley Coffee Shop, owners Nikki Ore and Maria Schlegel announced it was time for a change.

The shop’s Facebook page used to be post after post of coffee memes, community events and photos of their beloved cinnamon rolls, made fresh Saturday mornings. Now, the page sprinkles in its fair share of day-of closing announcements, often due to staff injury or illness. Most recently, it included a surprise announcement.

“It’s been a tough couple of years and I’m not getting any younger. It’s time for me move on and give someone new an opportunity to become an entrepreneur,” Schlegel said via Facebook post Sunday night. “As such, Bexley Coffee Shop will be available for sale immediately. If I’m unable to secure a qualified buyer, I plan to cease operating by the end of January.”

Within 24 hours, more than 60 inquiries flooded in to save the cozy coffee and pastry shop. Schlegel said potential buyers should be able to be approved for a lease and have some previous experience running a coffee shop, bakery or other similar venture. Most importantly, they must appreciate the shop’s community-centric mission.

“This last point is crucial as I have many customers that have been coming to the shop since day one and it’s really important to me that some of what I’ve created carries on,” Schlegel said.

Schlegel said she and Ore were middle-aged nurses who frequented the café when its last owners, Sean and Paulette Sullivan, decided to sell the shop, which the couple had opened together in 2008. Schlegel and Ore assumed ownership in January 2015, adding baked goods to the menu and embracing community events.

Bexley Coffee Shop hosted events for local Girl Scouts and professionals alike, allowing community entrepreneurs to use the space to sell their goods. The shop at 492 N. Cassady Ave. has hosted Bexley book clubs and artists’ open houses, open mic nights and food truck days. Now, community members are giving back to Ore and Schlegel.

“I’m truly overwhelmed with the kind thoughts and words of everyone,” Schlegel said. “I sometimes get caught up in the day to day of work tasks and lose sight of what my shop has been for so many in this community.”

Those who meet the criteria and are interested in buying the shop can email dreambigkitchens@gmail.com with a few possible meeting times to discuss further.