BUSINESS BUZZ

The lowdown on what’s up with neighborhood businesses

Send business news tips to LIVELOCAL@ADVOCATEMAG.COM

What’s new on Henderson

A new salon has opened on the corner of Henderson and Bonita in the pink house built in 1923. “There were so many challenges, but we overcame them,” says Glitz Salon owner Debi Gidner. “We have converted the pink house into a glamorous hair salon.” The salon specializes in the Organic Color, Curl and Control systems line, which does not use ammonia and is preferred by those who suffer from allergies.

Boutique catering company The Hospitality Sweet will provide sweets for London Cafe inside the new Timothy Oulton design store at Central and Henderson.

Sisters Kristen Adams Scott and Meghan Adams, who own Hospitality Sweet, specialize in sweets and party food, plus wedding cakes, full catering and boxed lunches for meetings. Timothy Oulton opened in the former Potter Art Metal Studios building last month. It is the Londonbased designer’s first Texas store.

Art is Art offers design consultation with purchase

Art consignment store Art is Art now offers free in-home, professional design advice with the purchase of artwork valued at $500 or more. “We’re hoping to reach out to local people that definitely want local, modern, original art from our store but need a little help

More business bits

with placement,” says co-owner Carrie Jepsen. Co-owner and professional designer Renata Holder performs the design consultations.

Good 2 Go Taco/Barcadia owners open Acme F&B

A dream team of owners — Colleen O’Hare and Jeana Johnson of Good 2 Go Taco and Brooke Humphries and Brianna Larson of Barcadia — have opened a casual, fine dining restaurant at McKinney and Monticello. Described as “come-asyou-are fine dining,” Acme F&B features New American cuisine with a focus on seasonal, sustainable and local ingredients. The bar features 24 beers on tap, 26 wines by the glass and a specialty cocktail list.

1 The Sunflower store on North Henderson will become SproutsFarmersMarket in August, as Sprouts acquired the grocery chain in May.

2 Lakewood residents Masoom and Suraiya Khan recently celebrated the oneyear anniversary of their coffeehouse, Café Silva, located at Greenville and Royal.

3 Taco Joint has opened its second location at Mockingbird and Abrams. 4 Whole Earth Provision Company recently presented a check for $30,000 to benefit Texas State Parks at the TexasParksandWildlifeCommission meeting. The donation came from a statewide, in-store promotion in April as well as proceeds from the Banff Mountain Film Festival. 5 The Bicycle Café at West Lawther and Northwest Highway, which opened only a few months ago, is up for sale 6 MedallionCenter at Northwest Highway and Abrams recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Spanish

7900 Lovers Ln. / 214.363.9391 stchristophersmontessori.com

848 Harter Rd., Dallas 75218 / 214.328.9131 / stjohnsschool.org

The Big Idea: How local women turned passions into professions

Very few can say they are passionate about their work, which is why the stories featured in these pages are so inspirtransformed them into successful careers.

“I love what I do; I truly love what I do,” says Karen Dittmar of Willie and Coote Salon. “It’s like being an artist every day.” After more than 10 years styling hair, Karen found herself inspired by a vintage photograph of her mother and aunt (the salon is named after the infamous duo). “It looked like they were having so much fun, and I wanted to have a salon that was fun and laid-back and different.”

She began in Deep Ellum, but eventually moved to Lakewood where she strove to cultivate a grass-roots neighborhood feeling. “I wanted to be where we could get involved in the local scene, where all the stylists could live in the neighborhood, and where people could just hang out,” Dittmar says. Several years later, she has succeeded. “We have people who come here in their pajamas, with their coffee in the morning and get their hair cut,” she says, with unmistakable pride.

Nearby, local dentist Dr. Kelli Slate turned her passion into a reality by returning to school to become a dentist. Now an established professional, Dr. Slate advises “Don’t be afraid to advertise. It’s critical to get your name out there.” Dr. Slate says she was grateful to have solid family support when she returned to school, which is one path to success, but not the only path.

Dr. Debbie Shirico of Total Hearing Care found her life’s work during a summer gig at Lion’s Camp for Crippled Children. “I fell in love with some of the deaf children there,” she says. “I decided I wanted to work with deaf kids, so I went in sign language and enjoyed working with deaf kids and understanding deaf culture. “It’s like a whole world of its own. Learning how the deaf think and interact is like landing on a new island in another country.” Her career path took her through diagnostic testing and ultimately led her to hearing aids.

“I love helping people hear and putting a smile on their to take a chance on acquiring an existing hearing aid business

With her passion for East Dallas, Elizabeth gives you solutions to all of your real estate needs

Extensive knowledge of market trends and broad-based marketing strategies coupled with a designer’s eye, gives her the ability to recognize the potential in every house.

Mast provides you with more.

–Debbie Schirico, Au.D

214.789.9187

We are a fitness-based yoga studio for all levels and offer five different hot yoga classes in 30, 60 and 90 minute time segments and an introductory series to help people get started. We have been open for over two years and Ashley says, “We continue to be excited about the overwhelming community support and participation in the studio!” Ashley and Allie believe the best is yet to come in terms of more people incorporating yoga into their lives. And they are excited to be the neighborhood studio to support people from class number one to a life-long practice.

75206 214.764.2119x113 people sell homes.” She acquired an inventory of furniture and staged for all price ranges, including a $3 million dollar home on Lawther. Eventually she was ready for a new challenge and committed to getting her real estate license. Now she works at the business she loves from all angles and attributes her success to her strong work ethic.

Local Realtor and business owner Elizabeth Mast approached her real estate business from a different direction. Ten years ago she opened the eclectic boutique Talulah Belle in Lakewood, which she considers her “hobby,” because it was her way of exercising creativity outside of her 26-year career in finance. “I decided I really wanted to stay in the community and the neighborhood more,” Mast says, explaining why she chose to leave finance behind. “Now, in real estate I can leverage all of my negotiation skills and management skills that I took from finance, and my flair for design from the store, and all of the relationships with vendors and designers. I’m not only selling houses, but I’m staging and consulting, which really drives how quickly you can sell the house.” How quickly? Mast has only been in the business for a couple of months and has already closed her first deal.

Some women are just born entrepreneurs. Shea BootheWood of TrueBeautyRx in Lakewood can’t seem to stop starting new ventures. In January she opened a second shop called 2•shea Boutique (pronounced like the French “touché”). Unlike her first shop, which focuses completely on skin care, 2•shea Boutique has allowed Boothe-Wood to widen her range. “We have a spa treatment room at 2•shea Boutique,” Boothe-Wood says, “but I’ve expanded to carry my own clothing label as well. My degree is in apparel design, so this is my opportunity after 20-plus years to use my education and passion.” Boothe-Wood carries additional clothing lines by local designers, and she hopes to expand soon and feature local artists as well. “The theme of 2•shea Boutique is fashion, beauty and art,” Boothe-Wood says. “Everything beautiful under one roof.”