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TOP STORY OF THE DAY - The Emporium - A host for local small businesses PT 2
On Tuesday, the Brazil Times highlighted several small local businesses located inside The Emporium. In this edition, we will focus on those remaining.
Almost Anything Imprinting provides several imprinting services.
Owner Katie Minaghan has been imprinting for about three years. She explained she needed a home for her business, which was being run out of her parents' basement.
"When they moved, we just didn't have space, and we were looking for a space to call my own," said Minaghan.
After considering fixing another establishment for her shop, Minaghan saw the Facebook post of Chris Godfrey, owner of The Emporium.
"When I saw the Facebook ad on Chatter, Chris was like, what would you do if you had this opportunity? I immediately was like, where, how, what do I do," described Minaghan.
Minaghan says Godfrey closed the deal on Tuesday, and she was there that Friday looking at locations inside The Emporium. She was doubtful at first. Being from the Chicago area, she expected the rent to be something outlandish.
"I'd be dumb, truthfully dumb, not to sign a lease yesterday," said Minaghan. "My storefront is the very first one; it's got all the windows for most of the main street and down the side. Really, I have a lot of storefront and a lot of curb appeal."
Minaghan says the store will be dual-purpose, with a storefront area in the front and a working area in the back. She looks forward to the future and calling herself a business owner.
"I'm not born and raised here, but I'm establishing roots," said Minaghan.
Almost Anything Impriting is offering something special this Valentine's Day.
"Here in town, there's not a lot of options for Valentine's Day florists, so something that I like to do for fun is flower arrangements."
Minaghan will be open in the early hours for plant workers and offers personalized vases for preorder.
Game On Productions creates customized creations, including DTF transfers and apparel, vinyl signs, 3D printing, laser engraving, and more.
"We specialize in clothes, and I help people who make clothes. I make the transfers to make clothes with," began Allen Syx. "Basically, if we can customize it, we have the equipment to customize it."
Syx and his wife, Kara, have owned and operated Game on Productions for seven years.
"We're trying to make our American dream work," said Syx. "We originally started out building cornhole boards out of the garage."
After such success, the Syx family went full-time with Game on Productions at the beginning of the year.
"It was kind of a side hustle for the last six years, and then it became more than I could handle as a side hustle, so we decided to jump in," said Syx.
The Syx family considered getting a truck and going on the road but opted to open a storefront.
"We're happy to be part of The Emporium family here," expressed Syx.
Game on Productions and Almost Anything Imprinting will team up to work together on specific projects.
"We're making a big effort that you can get whatever your customizing needs done all in one place, under one roof between both of us. We're working hand-in-hand even though we're two separate businesses; we're making an effort to team up together and help each other out, and both grow at the same time," explained Syx.
Katie Minaghan, owner of Almost Anything Imprinting, agrees.
"What's kind of awesome is The Emporium is going to be a lot of places of all things (you can) customize. Game On does very similar work, and so we're partnering in the sense of what he can't do, I can do, and vice-versa. We've worked out a really good partnership."
TB Health & Wellness provides supplements for health and wellness, nutrition coaching, and personal training.
Tayler Bell, owner of TB Health & Wellness, has been a personal trainer for four years and has recently taken his passion for wellness to the next level.
"I'm just looking to bring a positive upbringing environment to the town," explained Bell.
After moving away and returning to the area, Bell decided to start his own business, hoping to provide access and support to those interested in bettering themselves.
"I just see a niche that I wish I had in my own journey," said Bell. "Supplements are one thing; training is something else, but having someone to come to and just ask questions. If I don't know the answer, I'm going to find the answer for you."
Bell stresses to stay tuned; TB Health and Wellness has much more to come.
"Mental health is something that TB Health and Wellness is going to prioritize. Whenever you see gym supplements, you think physical and fitness, but personally, I just take pride in the mental side of things more than anything. I want to provide that in a unique way," described Bell.
Nana's Kitchen is the newest local business to join The Emporium. Godfrey recently announced the Vault Room will be the home of Nana's Kitchen. Offering an entirely gluten-free menu, Perk Me Up Coffee, a second-hand bookstore, and the vault area will be available for coworking spaces, dining, or reading a book. Nana's Kitchen was unavailable for an interview.
When Godfrey bought the building, he inherited two renters—both of whom had been there for some time.
American Aikido Institute is run and owned by Sensei Garry Howard, specializing in self-defense.
Sensei Howard has decades of military, law enforcement, and martial arts training. His life and background could fill a book.
"I began martial arts training in 1968, so this is my fifty-sixth year in Martial Arts," said Sensei Howard.
The Emporium has been the home of the American Aikido Institute since 1989 and has stood the test of time.
"Students keep coming. It's an easy location to get to, whether you're coming from 70 or U.S. 40. Ample parking, and it's a really nice facility. We've been very blessed here in our time; I just consider myself very fortunate that students keep coming," explained Sensei Howard.
"I've been in the building longer than anybody, and the current owner, Chris Godfrey, is my fifth owner since I've been here," said Sensei Howard. "He's doing great things for the building and bringing people in. It's never been like this. I'm very excited about it."
American Aikido Institute provides Aikido-based self-defense with customized levels of instruction. Sensei Howard says there's a wide variety of ages in students.
"From teenagers to up into their fifties. I am the oldest, but we've got quite a spread. We train three nights a week, but some people only make it one night, some people make it two nights, and some make it all three nights. The training is here, and the students use it to their best ability."
Nailed It is a nail salon offering two talented nail professionals: Nailed It with Nattalie McClelland and Krissy's Kute Nails with Krissy Lockard.
"Krissy does dip nails, pedicures, and gel polishes. I do acrylic, pedicures, and gel polishes," explained McClelland.
McClelland, originally from Reelsville, graduated from Jocies' Beauty School and has been doing nails for seven years. She says she became interested in nails in her thirties.
"I always thought that whenever I graduated from nail school, I would just go work in a salon and do nails. I never thought about being my own boss and having my own business," said McClelland. "It was the best decision I ever made. I love being able to set my own schedule and be my own boss. But it's also a lot of responsibility. If you fail, you fail. There's no one else to blame."
For five years, Nailed It has been located inside The Emporium.
"Chris is a go-getter. I've never seen this many businesses in here. It's exciting to see that it's starting to grow," described McClelland.
812 Records offers recording, engineering, marketing, artist development, graphics, and more.
"I offer a list full of things, whether recording or engineering, marketing, promotions, or artist development. I'm starting to do photography, and I'm going to try doing music videos soon. I do graphic designing as well, so cover art and all that good stuff. I'm trying to be like a one-stop shop," explained the owner of 812 Records, Wavnerd.
At only 22, Wavnerd finds himself a young business owner.
"First, I used to make music myself, and then it started tumbling into how to engineer."
Wavnerd says he had previously traveled out of state to visit a record label, which ended up being a scam.
"I was like, 'alright,' I'm going to come back up here, and I'm going to learn how to do all this and all of that, so it's actually a fair game for artists," explained Wavnerd.
Passionate about making music and creating a good experience for each artist, Wavnerd's business began to grow exponentially. So much so that he started looking for a place to set up his studio outside his home.
"Basically, I would record my friends, but I was getting to a point that other people were hitting them up and asking, 'Hey, where'd you go?' so I thought it was time to make it official and bring other people in," said Wavnerd.
Each business owner expressed excitement for the future and looks forward to watching The Emporium grow.
Chris Godfrey, owner of The Emporium, has received countless praises for his drive, vision, and desire to create a downtown Brazil that citizens are proud of.
