Small Business Saturday Emphasizes Community

– Advertisement –

Small Business Saturday was a chance for our community to celebrate the hard-working, creative people who serve us through their one-of-a-kind and diverse businesses. Both brick-and-mortar and home businesses we represented during the event. It was clear to any visitor that each proprietor was passionate about their service or product and that each brought much value to the community, and not just in physical products. Local businesses painstakingly built from the ground up also foster opportunities for friendships, business networking opportunities, and chances for individuals to learn and grow. They come from within our community, so they understand who we are, what we value, and what we are willing to spend time and money on.

In 2016, downtown Mountaineer Coffee, owned by Daniel and Darby Pritz, quickly became a popular place to get coffee, gargantuan pop tarts, and catch up with friends or school work. Located at 26 South Broad Street and set up like a comfortable sunny patio with multiple plants and seating areas, the shop invites visitors to stay a while and browse the local art on the walls or the homemade crafts and foods on a shelf in one of the three rooms. The shop has seen many changes in decor, furniture, and plants, with the most recent addition being a children’s table and chairs set for their youngest patrons.

On this day, the line for ordering spills out of the door, and the main room is full of customers eagerly awaiting their treats. Freelance videographer and scriptwriter Kyle Marra has frequented Mountaineer since its opening. He comes here to help him focus on work, yet enjoys running into friends and says, “This is a good community.”

Located at 100 South Main Street, Panbanged Knits and Fiber Shoppe came onto the Brooksville scene in 2019. Owner Christen Brandl became passionate about fibers after being diagnosed with a medical condition that caused her to lose feeling on the right side of her body. Knitting and crocheting were therapy to keep her body moving and healthy. She opened her shop to share her passion and to “form community.” The community she has created incorporates individuals from as far away as The Villages, Inverness, Lutz and includes and values the contributions of crocheters, as well.

– Advertisement –

Central to Chris’ colorful shop is a seating area lined with comfortable armchairs, sofas, a cozy shaggy rug, and a full-sized dining room table that seats six. Mary Toth, a retired nurse, loves coming here to knit because Chris “is warm and funny,” and she feels happy here in what she considers her “safe sanctuary.” Baycare therapist Betsy Draine makes the drive from Land O’Lakes to knit with her friends at the shop. She loves “the spirit of the shop,” how fun it is, and how accepting the people are. She also appreciates being able to find fibers here that she cannot find anywhere else in Florida.

Chris works hard to find and acquire fibers that are mulesing-free and that have a story behind them. One of her unique skein collections called Lascaux is a wool made from a herd of four-horned sheep found only on the Isle of Mann. Included in her exotic world-class collection are fibers from yaks, muskox, baby alpacas, camels, etc. Products are shipped to all over the world, including Nigeria.

The brand new Broad Street Brewing Company opened this year at 291 East Jefferson Street, across the street from the courthouse. Co-owner Tanya Myers and her husband took three years to make their beautiful establishment what it is today. The exterior of the cleverly renovated 1950s chiropractor’s office boasts eye-catching orange shades, plants, and wood tones and a large parking lot that ensures you’ll always have a place to park. The interior is a mixture of an art gallery and a museum.

The Myers love local history and worked to incorporate salvaged wood and other building materials into their taproom. An old upright piano sits near the entrance, and salvaged Caribbean Mahogany planks from felled trees on Chinsegut Hill are inlaid into the bar surface, supported by a structure made with recycled Victorian doors. The tap handles are all old door handles, and pillars and tables were made from some of the building’s ceiling rafters. Paintings from local artists adorn the walls, regularly being refreshed as pieces are sold.

Broad Street Brewing serves up equal amounts of drinks and community. Florida-only breweries with ciders, beers, sangrias, and wines are featured. For visitors who do not wish to consume alcohol, many options are offered: herbal and mushroom teas, as well as non-alcoholic cocktails. Workshop Wednesdays host classes, including painting, herbal studies, brewing kombucha, and other crafts. Every second Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m., an all-hand-made market takes place at the brewery, with open mic night at 6:30 p.m. Saturday nights.

Since she was fourteen years old, Valerie Doyle, owner of The Lazy Maid Creperie located at 419 Howell Avenue, has dreamed of the business she now runs and operates with the help of many family members. In the beginning, she was unsure if community members would even be interested in crepes. But within two years of opening, her creperie “has become even bigger and better than ever expected!” and is a testament to her belief that “if you follow your passion, the money will come.”

Comfortably situated in an old two-story home near the Brooksville Public Library, the dog-friendly restaurant serves guests within its multiple rooms and large covered porch. Doyle only serves food that she considers delicious and wants to eat, using the best ingredients, including gluten-free menu choices and Pup Cups. And unlike what many prospective customers may assume, the creperie serves a hearty selection of savory crepes- not just sweet.

Already, The Lazy Maid has regulars who have hosted baby showers and other parties at the restaurant. One man even proposed to his fiance. “Customers share their stories with us,” says Doyle. “It was never about the money. I wanted to create a friendly environment… We are part of people’s stories. Every day is a new experience. The people are what this is about.”

Happy customer Andre Piazera from Apopka has become a regular, making a point to visit whenever he is in town to see his family. Local teens Valantyna and Meelah say they prefer coming here for lunch with their parents rather than a larger, national chain restaurant because “It is nicer, the rooms are pretty, the food is good, and the servers are really nice.”

South Brooksville Avenue was blocked off for the event, and shoppers browsed through home business vendors’ tents set with attractive, colorful displays of apparel, homemade soaps, foods, jewelry, and service advertisements.

Dawn Peterson, home business owner of Diverse Designs by Dawn, offers customers ”handmade one-of-a-kind wearable art” in the form of colorful earrings, necklaces, rings, boot bangles and custom-made designs. All pieces are made by hand and no design is ever used twice. She regularly sells her jewelry at outdoor markets at Starkey Park, Safety Harbor, and Wiregrass Mall and has cultivated a following of repeat customers, especially for her unique custom orders. Her shop can be visited via Instagram at dawn.peterson.79656. Find her on Facebook at diversedesignsbydawn2020.

For many years, Jessy Roberts, creator of home business Ethereal Roots, lived in her RV and traveled the country. At each campsite she stayed at, a common nuisance was having to make a fire with wet firewood, which made for unpleasant smoke, and neighbors who weren’t so eager to socialize in her new temporary home. So she began making fire starters to aid in the lighting process- and make it smell much more appealing. Nowadays, her quick-selling inventory includes scents of peppermint, lavender and sage, clove, lemongrass, cedar and many more. Roberts is a firm believer in networking with and promoting other small local businesses that neighbor her booths at outdoor markets where she sells. Although she has only been in Florida for four months, her desire is to firmly plant herself here, serving the community and doing what she loves. She can be reached at [email protected].

The new home business Croom Hill Bike Rentals, was created by David Ellis with the vision of getting people out on the trails and into nature. His company rents electric bicycles outfitted with coolers on the back of each bike and helmets for each rider. To rent a bike, customers visit the website at Coomhillbikerental.com to make a reservation. To make his service extremely convenient, Ellis and his crew will deliver the bikes to the trailhead and pick them up when customers are finished.

Local artist Mark Hannah was part of the action, as well, painting a mural of a tangerine grove on the Lowman building at the corner of South Main and East Liberty Streets, across from the courthouse. He is a long-time fan of Brooksville murals with over twenty years of experience in murals and signs. He can be reached at 352-467-0664.

Whether a business is brick and mortar or based at home, they strengthen our community and encourage hometown pride. This holiday season, let’s do our part to support them.