Love to shop local
As Valentine's approaches, love is in the air. And there's no better time to show a little love to local businesses. Luckily there is no shortage of options to celebrate the day of love while spending money with our neighbors.
Last week I spoke with McMinnville-Warren County Chamber of Commerce President Melissa Mullins and asked her if she had any Business-Pulse-worthy news for me. As any good Chamber president should, she jumped at the chance to promote some of our local businesses.
"While Christmas often gets the spotlight for shopping local, Feb. 14 is another perfect opportunity to show love, not just to your significant other, but to our community as well," Melissa said. "Why travel out of town when McMinnville offers everything you need to make Valentine's Day special? From handcrafted sweet treats to elegant floral arrangements, thoughtful gifts and one-of-a-kind dining experiences, our local businesses have you covered."
When asked for a few specific examples, Melissa had plenty.
"For sweet treats, stop by Vanilla Bean Bakery for delicious pastries, grab gourmet cookies from Cookies by Brax, choose from a variety of sweet treats at the Candy Lady, or enjoy a cozy afternoon with specialty teas and homemade desserts at Kimmi’s Tea Room.
"If you are looking for the perfect bouquet or a thoughtful gift, All-O-K’sions has stunning floral arrangements and unique finds," Melissa continued. "For timeless gifts, browse Southern Traditions for charming home décor and specialty items, or shop exquisite jewelry at United Diamond Brokers to make this Valentine's Day truly sparkle."
Melissa also pointed out there's no need to leave town for a romantic date night.
"Make a reservation at The Local on Morford, enjoy a meal together at Begonias or, if you’re craving Southern barbecue, Collins River is a perfect choice," Melissa said. "Prefer a night in? Surprise your Valentine with lobster tails and a heart-shaped ribeye from The Butcher on Main, paired with a long-stem rose.
"If you're looking for something more exciting, try an active Valentine's date at The Detention at The Elementary in Morrison, where you can challenge each other with air hockey, laser tag or a wide variety of arcade games, and more for a fun and memorable experience."
As Melissa pointed out, shopping locally is not only more convenient, it strengthens the businesses that make Warren County the unique place it is. Every dollar spent as a small business helps our neighbors, creates jobs and boosts the economy.
"These are just a few options. For even more ideas, check out all our wonderful Chamber members and what they are offering this Valentine’s season on our Facebook and Instagram pages," Melissa said. "Get inspired and find the perfect way to celebrate while supporting local businesses. This Valentine’s Day, let’s show love for both our loved ones and our local businesses. Shop local, support McMinnville, and make this holiday extra special for everyone!"
An additional date-night option on Main Street is the Park Theater. The historic venue has a pair of great shows scheduled for Valentine's weekend. On Friday, Feb. 14, Ken Block and Drew Copeland of Sister Hazel will perform at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 15, Forever Abbey Road, a Beatles tribute band, will take the stage at 7 p.m.
As a special incentive to celebrate the holiday locally, the Park Theater is offering free popcorn to anyone at the shows who presents the concessions staff a receipt from their pre-show meal at any local restaurant or bar. Limit one popcorn per person for receipts dated Feb. 14 or Feb. 15.
New stores open
A couple of stores I have previously reported on as coming are now open. In the July 21 Business Pulse, I reported that sources had told me a Dollar Tree was coming to the unoccupied portion of the building housing Harbor Freight at 912 N. Chancery St.
Last Sunday, Dollar Tree opened its doors. At the time of the first report, there was some speculation that the new Dollar Tree would spell the end of the Three Star Mall Dollar Tree location.
Thankfully, that did not turn out to be the case. I spoke to new Dollar Tree Manager Angel Martin who expressed her satisfaction with the new store while confirming the Three Star Mall location will continue operating as well.
"I'm glad to be here," Angel said. As far as the mall location, she said, "It will still be open and running."
A notable addition to the newest Dollar Tree is a freezer case offering frozen foods. As a microwave cook, I took advantage of the new selection and took home a frozen lasagna after checking out the new place.
The opening of the new store means there are two Dollar Trees in addition to the Family Dollar/Dollar Tree in Morrison.
And speaking of Morrison and stores I've reported were coming, the Morrison location of O'Reilly Auto Parts right next door to the Family Dollar/Dollar Tree has been open since Dec. 7.
Main Street
business closes
Sadly, to go along with the new stores, there is a loss. Holly Cherry told me that because of a family medical issue, she and her sister Scytha Loader had to close The Rustic Daisy at 213 E. Main St.
The boutique store which offered a wide range of items had a store-closing sale this weekend, ending on Saturday. "Thank you to all of our customers for always supporting us since our opening in March, 2023," Holly said. "It means the world to me and you all are greatly appreciated."
It's always a little sad to see a business I previously reported on have to close, but I wish the best to Holly, Scytha and their families.
Seven days a week
Fady Girgis, the new owner of Foutch's Family Restaurant at 1127 Sparta St., reached out to me on Wednesday to give me the exciting news that Foutch's will now be open seven days a week.
"Additionally, we're excited to share that we'll soon be extending our hours to offer evening service," Fady said. "We're looking forward to welcoming more guests and providing them with the great food and service they've come to love, now with even more flexibility."
So that's good news for those looking for a Foutch's fix.
Salon gets makeover
Head to Toe Salon and Spa is well acquainted with makeovers. The salon has been one of McMinnville's hidden gems for nearly 20 years and has recently seen a makeover of its own. As of Jan. 1, the salon has a new owner, Samantha Ferrell, and has also had a remodel.
"We specialize in everything from nails to hair coloring, lashes, facials and cuts for the whole family," Samantha said. "We have eight amazing hair stylists and two nail techs who strive every day to bring your ideas to life and make you feel more beautiful when you leave than when you first walked in the door."
Samantha has been doing hair for 12 years and has been at Head to Toe for the past 10 years.
“It has always been my passion since I was a little girl to give people confidence, because that was something I always struggled with," Samantha said. "One way that always made me feel good was if I had a good hairstyle. We invite all of our loyal clients to come and check out our new look and invite anyone looking for a new stylist to come and give any one of our wonderful stylists a try. We can’t wait to see you and show you why our motto is 'love is in the hair!'"
Head to Toe Salon and Spa is located at 1100 Smithville Hwy. Ste 117A in the Plaza Shopping Center and can be reached at (931) 474-3393.
Until next week,
Same biz day,
Same biz page
Thanks for reading and thanks to everyone who reached out to me with business news this week. Thanks to Ben Lomand Connect for sponsoring the page. I'll see you back here next week.
