Getting busier in downtown Elyria
Lisa Roberson
ELYRIA - The local economy may be lackluster for some, but a few local entrepreneurs still believe in downtown Elyria and are opening shops to prove it.
In the coming weeks, at least five new small businesses will open their doors, including a women`s clothing boutique called Kelly`s Boutique at 10 Lake Ave., a shoe store called Steppin` Out! Footwear at 381 Broad St., and a diner/coffeehouse called Peggy`s Place at 354 Broad St.
A new art school and art studio is open for business after turning the second floor of one downtown Elyria building, also at 381 Broad St. into a haven for local artists.
And an information technology consulting firm, Bafmin LLC, also plans to open on Middle Avenue.
Artist Debra Kozak said setting up shop in downtown Elyria was a no-brainer. She moved to Elyria more than 11 years ago from Avon Lake and is a firm believer in having the arts wherever she goes.
“I`m just a crazy artist who loves Elyria,” Kozak said from her studio on Broad Street called Sable River Art School and Gallery.
Surrounded by her own creations and the works of other artists who craved a place willing to highlight their talent, Kozak talked with enthusiasm about what she hopes will transpire in Elyria in regards to the arts.
“The arts should be in a more urban setting where people can have access to it right where they are,” she said. “I want today`s generation to know there is art in everything you do. It`s not just for the haute taute or the big cities like New York.”
Still, Kozak said she knows there are many who would question her desire to be in downtown Elyria. She can only answer that it`s because it`s the right place to be, she said.
Likewise, Sandra Wright said downtown Elyria offered her and her daughter the best option for their shoe store.
“This location is purely great and we know because we looked all over Lorain County before settling on this location,” she said. “We`ve always wanted to do something like this, but in a way that is feasible for us to offer affordable shoes.”
The result is Steppin` Out! Footwear, a discount shoe store that combines Wright`s background in corrections and the business management background of her daughter, Shayla Wright. This is their first venture outside of those areas, but Wright said they have one thing going for them.
“We`ve always been women, so we know shoes,” she said, smiling.
Opening a business is not easy, especially in Elyria, but Jim Sloan, a retired autoworker turned coffee barista, hopes more people take the chance.
Sloan has owned and operated Jim`s Coffeehouse on Lake Avenue since the early summer of 2008 and wishes more entrepreneurs would see the value of setting up shop downtown.
“We are stronger when we are together,” he said. “If someone comes downtown for one thing, they will come downtown for other things. We just have to be here.”
Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.
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Filed by Lisa Roberson May 14th, 2009 in BREAKING, Top Stories.
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I sure hope they dont want to put up a sign to advertise their busieness, they will be run out of town on a rail
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5 new businesses opening in the downtown area - that is good news:) however, if you compare it with businesses that have left or decided against opening up in the city - because of the many hoops that the owners are asked to jump through - it’s a rather small number that stay… perhaps they just weren’t asked to jump through hoops…
(this is not speculation; I”ve actually spoken to some business owners and property managers that have relayed their stories to me about the manner in which permits and other such things were handled - that discouraged many of them from actually setting up here.)
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yes it is good news that business are opening in elyria but they are all personal stores,it doesnt really help the economy just the ones who run them,its not creating jobs,only for the ones who won these stores.i do however want to wish them all good luck in keeping the businesses going in todays economy though.but i do want to say one more thing how does one open and keep a place running,but yet still be on section 8????is it poosible that welfare will still assist people who have enough money to open a business maybe im wrong i dont know.?????
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booboo, where did you see section 8? I didn’t see it in the article; do I need to get new glasses?
I do not think a person on section 8 should be opening a business; they need to get off social system first. Everyone may need a helping hand at some point; but, no one should get a hand out…
Help those who help themselves.
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and he can eat for life:)
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Incidently, I like the ambiance of Jim’s Coffee House:) It’s a bit of local historic flavor; with a welcoming , small-town kind of atmosphere; and staff that serve you with a smile and that personal touch of real customer service that seems to be lost on most businesses these days…
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“I want today’s generation to know there is art in everything you do. It’s not just for the haute taute or the big cities like New York.â€
It’s not for Elyria either.
Still, I hope the best for them, but must question their timing in opening a business.
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rayvon,
it doesnt say section 8 in the article but the owner of one of these business is on section 8 and had been for years,i know her personally and she has like 4 kids which is no big deal but then she has an alcoholic boyfirend that refuses to work or pay his child support???which is why i said does welfare help these people open business if so where do i sign up???????lol
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booboo,
thanks for your response:)
I was just making sure that my eyes are still working right:) lol
people on section 8 can buy houses too… using section 8 money. I’m not against giving people a helping hand up; when they’re down - but I don’t agree with giving people things on our dollar; that we’ve had to earn on our own.
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do you know that social systems in some european countries do the following:
for each kid you have, (to a max) you receive a certain amount of money each month until their are adults. they also have national healthcare. however, once you become an adult - you serve 1 (or 2 - I forget) year(s) in the military (granted; their military service isn’t the same intensity as ours because some of these countries are rather neutral), after their service in military (which includes some community service type duties); they attend a couple years of college on social system; but extensive education and degrees that are continued - are on the citizens’ dollar.
you get, but you have to give back.
it might be worth noting that property is highly expensive in these areas; but, that’s how they generate the money to help raise and educate their citizens; and provide healthcare.
still, the system has some merit in its take and give back basis.
Just thought some might find it interesting:)
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