Tag Archives: Business Spotlight

Small Business Spotlight: Bella Zari Hair Studio and Day Spa

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Bella Zari Hair Studio and Day Spa is located at 112 South Court Street in downtown Circleville.

Nestled in charming downtown Circleville Ohio is a spa experience unlike any other. Bella Zari Hair Studio and Day Spa is a full service salon that offers clients a peaceful, relaxing experience in an ever hectic world.

Owner operator Mindy Verito attended Paint Valley High School and friends there would remember her as Mindy Yoe. After high school she attended Shawnee State University for Business Management and while finishing her degree also attended Cincinnati School of Medical Massage. After working in a couple of spas in Columbus, and even a hospital, she now uses her education and experience to run Bella Zari and act as their Licensed Massage Therapist.

Bella Zari has an array of offerings for clients. Hair Services are provided by the stylist of your choice and can be performed on men, women, and children. Cuts, colors, and waxing can be done by all stylists but each one has a specialty including color and certain types of cuts.

Clients with a special event like a school dance or wedding may wish to book both a special event hairstyle and makeup. Makeup can be natural and simple or full glamour with false lashes and everywhere in between. Massages make up another portion of the salon and range in length from 30-90 minutes. Hot stone, deep tissue and even maternity massages are available and customizing is always an option. Manicures and pedicures round out the list of services offered and can be anywhere from basic polishes to gel nails.

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Regal colors and lots of shimmer adorn the Spunk and Sparkle area inside Bella Zari.

Verito says that what really sets Bella Zari apart from other full service salons is a portion of the business called Spunk and Sparkle. Spunk and Sparkle is a spa experience geared toward girls 12 and under. The idea is kid approved by Verito’s seven year old daughter Layla, but if you ask Layla, she’ll take the credit for the concept.

The menu of offerings ranges from hair, nails, and makeup to chocolate facials. Packages can be purchased to treat someone to a special day or for a fun Mommy and Me activity. The salon can also be rented out for parties with up to ten girls. Who doesn’t need a bit more sparkle in their life?

To see the full range of services offered at Bella Zari Hair Studio and Day Spa visit www.bellazari.com/ or find them on Facebook.  Verito welcomes guests to stop in their salon at 122 South Court Street in Circleville.

Local Business Spotlight: Blystone Farm

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We understand that being a small business owner is tough. That’s why we plan to spotlight a different business each month to help you learn about unique businesses in your own back yard. 

WP_20150707_10_30_51_ProIt’s summertime in Ohio and the season for sunshine, swimming pools and family gatherings is upon us. That means perfect weather for grilling out! And if you’re looking for a place to pick up fresh, local meat to throw on the grill and fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables to pair it with, look no further than Blystone Farm in Canal Winchester.

Blystone Farm is a historic, four generation family farm that has taken eating local to a whole new level. Herds of commercial sheep have been raised on the farm through the years. Then, eleven years ago, Joe Blystone had a brainstorm. Seeing opportunity in Franklin County and surrounding areas, Blystone led the charge in opening an on-farm meat processing facility.

“The idea to bring back the old time butcher shop really started with the growing ethnic community in Franklin County,” Joe said. With lambs and goats being raised at the farm already and the development of the butcher shop, Blystone Farm found their niche in their ability to “provide a high quality fresh meat product to the immigrant and refugee community, with respect to their religious need.”

Opportunities for expansion accompanied the operation’s success. The family farm took on pigs and cows and began laying plans for expanding the shop. Joe’s wife Jane was welcomed into the family business in 2010, bringing expertise as a baker and experience as a business owner.

The building was expanded and the Blystone Farm Retail Market was developed into what it is today – a one stop shop for fresh, local meats, fresh baked bread and pastries, local seasonal fruits and vegetables, craft beer and more, including locally made condiments such as Blystone Farm branded sauces and seasonings.

Nearly all of the meat available at the shop is processed on-site from all Ohio raised livestock. The only exception is grass-fed, naturally-raised buffalo meat used in their bison burgers, sent straight from The Wild Idea Buffalo Company in South Dakota.

It doesn’t stop at the butcher shop and bakery though. Customers with special occasions can place custom orders including half and whole animals for events like a hog roast. In fact, custom orders are gladly accepted and prepared for customers with specific needs.   And, as an added bonus, the outdoor table seating and in-house deli at the shop offer visitors a chance to sit, relax and have a sandwich at lunch while overlooking the beauty of rural farmland.

Word has begun to spread about quality products and service in the expanded shop and rave reviews are rampant on social media. “We’re starting to see folks stop in from further out than Lancaster, Fairfield County, and Franklin County” which is what the primary customer base was in the past, Joe explained.

So the next time you have a hankering for a bison burger or a fresh baked pie, you’re planning a hog roast, or you feel like impressing your guests with local brewed craft beer and a porterhouse steak, stop by Blystone Farm in Canal Winchester. At Blystone Farm, it’s always the season for quality food and drink!

Want to know more? Visit their website or follow Blystone Farm on Facebook!

Local Business Spotlight: Venue 62 For Your Next Event

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We understand that being a small business owner is tough. That’s why we plan to spotlight a different business each month to help you learn about unique businesses in your own back yard.  

Distinctive. Unique. Historic. Full of character. . .

These are all terms used to describe Venue 62, Grove City’s up-and-coming boutique event space.

Located in the heart of Grove City’s Town Center, Venue 62 opened for business last Spring. Originally financed, purchased and renovated in 2010 to house owner Matt Yerkes’ software company, the idea of having a food-service business in part of the building was always part of the long-term plan.

After seeing the facility in person, one can certainly see that the building’s rich history and character are an integral part of the Venue 62 experience.

The historic brick building dates back to at least the 1920’s, when it was a drug store and stood next door to an automotive dealership. As we know, times have certainly changed in the last century. This fact is demonstrated by the new car prices ranging from $319 to $645 that are still painted on one of the exposed brick walls inside the venue.

When it came time for renovations, Yerkes had a vision that came, in part, from seeing a small section of exposed brick along the wall. “What if we exposed the entire wall?” he wondered. It was only later, after many hours of labor, that the new car prices of yesteryear would be uncovered.

This only added to the look and feel of the historic building, which includes custom built barn doors on the interior, a trickier project than expected. “We had this idea for these large doors, but we had to be sure to build them small enough to fit through the front of the building,” he said. The doors are used to enclose a middle section that was designed specifically with business meetings and gatherings in mind.

The beams from which interior lights hang were created from lumber that once held up the false ceiling in the building’s pre-renovation years.

The vision and hard work have paid off. Since opening for business nearly one year ago, Venue 62 has played host to numerous wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, bridal and baby showers, luncheons, memorial services, and professional gatherings.

Bookings have steadily increased to the point that Christmas events are being booked eight months in advance. They work to accommodate the needs of their guests to make event planning a smooth experience.

“We have a D5 liquor license, which allows beer, wine, and liquor, and an A2 Occupancy license which allows for nearly 100 guests,” Yerkes explained. The back section of the building was completely renovated to include a brand new commercial kitchen last summer. This allows for an expanded and fully customized menu for events of all types.

And while Venue 62 will provide food and beverages of the customer’s choosing, customers are not tied to using Venue 62’s catering. Food options from outside vendors are allowed for events, which really allows for freedom and creativity when event planning.

The future looks bright for Venue 62 and Grove City’s Town Center. A planned expansion for downtown parking options is in the works, as are development plans for the nearby library, city hall, and various commercial and residential properties in the area.

Since 2010, Yerkes has witnessed a resurgence in the downtown district and expresses great hope for the future. “It’s a great time to be here in the Town Center. We’ve been really pleased to be a part of it,” he said.

Venue 62 is located at 3995 Broadway, Grove City. Visit Venue 62 on Facebook or on their website at www.venue62.com.

Business Spotlight: Improving Health In Fairfield County

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We understand that being a small business owner is tough. That’s why we plan to spotlight a different business each month to help you learn about unique businesses in your own back yard.  

In a world where time and money are at a premium, the YMCA in Lancaster is making it easy and affordable for people of all ages to achieve their physical fitness goals. The Robert K. Fox Family YMCA helps strengthen the community by teaching youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

By offering a wide variety of youth programs – from gymnastics to swimming – the YMCA works with children to help them reach their full potential. By teaching more than the fundamentals of a sport, the YMCA teaches kids fair play, allows everyone to participate and helps kids develop social interaction skills they will use for a lifetime. Best of all, the YMCA scholarship program allows everyone to participate, regardless of their ability to pay.

Last year, a Gallup poll revealed that 27.7 percent of Americans are now obese, the highest obesity rate in American history. The YMCA works to combat this epidemic by teaching overall healthy living in their wellness center. They encourage members, not just to exercise, but to also eat healthy and sleep consistently to keep their minds and bodies in shape. A balance of these three areas will help create a healthy lifestyle needed to live a long and happy life.

With 15,000 square feet of wellness center equipment and more than one hundred fitness programs that members and community members can participate in to gain needed strength, there are abundant opportunities for people of all ages to find the activity that works for them.

The YMCA also teaches social responsibility and strives to pay back the community for all the community does for the YMCA. For example, they have a Live Strong program for cancer survivors. This life changing addition to their schedule involves a free program of exercise and social interaction for people recovering from cancer.

There is even a child care program for families with kids. Child care for kids in school is offered along with a summer program for children who need a place to learn and grow especially for families who are working. They even have a preschool program for young children to start them on the road to a “healthy” education in Lancaster.

Their 36,000 square foot RecPlex facility provides ample space for tennis, volleyball, baseball, boxing and gymnastics. Purchased in 2008 and renovated in 2009, the RecPlex has allowed the Y to act on the vision of expanding services to the community, expanding the nationally recognized gymnastic program, and offering children a place to call their own. By investing in local kids, neighbors and the health of all, the YMCA ensures that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to thrive.

The Robert K Fox Family YMCA is located at 465 W. Sixth Ave. on the west side of Lancaster. The RecPlex is located at 1180 Locust St., on the east side of Lancaster. To learn more about the Robert K Fox Family Y, go to the website, http://www.ymcalancaster.org or call 740-654-0616.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Business Spotlight: From Kitchen To Storefront

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We understand that being a small business owner is tough. That’s why we plan to spotlight a different business each month to help you learn about unique businesses in your own back yard.  

One local woman is taking her passion for baking from kitchen to storefront. Country Cakes and Bakes owner Beth Spangler will soon open a retail location after years of tempting Pickaway County sweets lovers with her home baked goods.

From elegant wedding cakes to Bob the Builder on a little boy’s birthday cake, Spangler is known in the community as someone who can do it all. While her specialty is custom designed cakes, she makes other baked goods by request including cookies, brownies and other temptations in small, made-from-scratch batches.

Spangler started her culinary journey at the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute in Pittsburgh, a Le Cordon Bleu school. After graduating in 2007 she completed an externship in Wisconsin. She then returned to Ohio to work in a Columbus bakery and sell baked goods at farmer’s markets in Circleville and Chillicothe.

Spangler said she loves being responsible for her own income and being her own boss and she enjoys the flexibility that comes with owning her own business. The most difficult part, she said, “is doing 17 jobs at once.”

She continues to bake from her home while preparing to open a storefront retail location in New Holland. The new store will be at 409 W. Front Street and is expected to open at the end of March.

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Planned retail hours will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday as well as other times by appointment for customer pick-ups. Once settled in the new retail setting, Spangler plans to expand her offerings by producing cheesecakes, pastries and single serve items.

Check out Country Cakes and Bakes on Facebook. You can place an order at 740-497-6370 or via email at bethspangler@live.com.