OmBaked in The Reston Letter

OmBaked at Lake Anne

by Casey Menish

Tucked along the Lake Anne boardwalk you’ll find OmBaked, Reston’s very own CBD boutique. The shop has been carefully curated by owner Radhika Murari, who you may know as “the peanut butter lady.” Murari has a line of artisanal OmMade peanut butter - Virginia made with Virginia peanuts. The peanut butter is CBD-free and Murari mentioned that occasionally customers would “hurry past me and say ‘we’re not interested in CBD, just here for the peanut butter.’” But with time, on return visits, they would try CBD products as well.

Murari has lived in Reston for decades and says that “being run by ‘the peanut butter lady’ gives legitimacy to OmBaked,” as customers know her reputation. CBD novices can rest assured that their first visit to OmBaked will include a warm welcome from the staff and an education on the various types of CBD. Murari explains that “CBD is a general term for the compounds derived from hemp, it’s for people who want to explore the possible benefits of CBD without the high of THC.” Ireland DiBacco said that she teaches first-time customers with a card that explains the difference between full spectrum, broad spectrum, and so on.

“People know the pain points in their lives,” said Murari, and that helps direct them to the section of the store with products they might need, whether that is to Chill, Move, Think, or Sleep, or even the Furbabies section for pets. Customers come in for a variety of reasons. Research indicates that CBD may even help support people on addiction recovery journeys and social anxiety. OmBaked welcomes four-legged friends, as well. Customers report that their CBD chews seem to be helping puppies and senior dogs alike improve their mood.

OmBaked carries an assortment of seltzers, gummies, tinctures, creams, lip balms, chocolates, and more. There are many ways to consume CBD, and many ways to potentially find relief.

Each product on the floating shelves was thoughtfully selected by Murari herself over the course of many months. All the companies that made the cut have certificates of authenticity, they have been tested, and she does not carry any smoking or vaping products. For additional help ensuring CBD products comply with state laws and consumer safety requirements, OmBaked tapped into the expertise of Virginia NORML, a non-profit organization that is the state affiliate of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

The beautiful space was built out by Kat Willer of Revision Remodel, and the focal point shelves were built by Clint Sly, local craftsman. As they installed the floating shelves, on the inside of each shelf Sly and his associate wrote notes, “just messages of love and abundance, supercharged with love” said Sly. And you can tell that love and positivity exudes from the inside out at OmBaked.

The shop has a deeply Reston-based community feel, from a woman working on her laptop under OmBaked’s signature pink sunbrella with a view of the lake, while her daughter was decorating a rock for the garden. Inside the store there were employees who had been friends for a decade, neighbors, clients of each other's small businesses, parents of classmates from Reston schools, and more mingle, making small town connections. “Wait, are you really THE peanut butter lady?” a woman asks. Move over Cheers, because when it comes to Reston, OmBaked is where everybody knows your name.

DiBacco works at OmBaked because they have “the same ideals and how I want to carry my life.” DiBacco loves to work at OmBaked’s booth at the Lake Anne Farmers Market, so follow the music to the purple tent and the friendly gal saying hello to every passerby. Parker Tremaine decided to work here because she has an interest in plant-based and cannabis medicine. Tremaine enjoys working with first- time customers, giving them a smile, asking about their day, and helping them find just the right product.

What does the future hold for OmBaked? OmBaked’s space was built out to potentially become a cannabis dispensary when the laws are changed to allow that.