Community Spotlight: Rushell Gordon, Bliss Tea &Treats

community spotlight

Rushell Gordon, Bliss Tea & Treats

Rushell Gordon’s first taste of Oceanside came back in the 1980s. Coming back to the city after spending some time away, Rushell was amazed at how much Oceanside had grown and economically transformed, yet still remained warm and welcoming. Inspired by the city’s culture and sense of community, she decided this would be home to Bliss Tea & Treats, a modern-day lounge and Tea Room. At Bliss Tea & Treats, guests can experience an authentic artisan tea experience. Through her travels worldwide, Rushell realized no matter the culture, tea was used as a means to connect all individuals. Her goal with Bliss was to create a space where people could connect on and offline, and to bring Osiders the core tea experience that so many cultures around the world have enjoyed for decades. With her Tea Room located in downtown Oceanside, Rushell became immersed in the local business community. She joined multiple community boards and groups, including the Oceanside Chamber board, in an effort to maximize Oceanside’s potential and help solve some of the difficult issues local businesses face. Being a business owner herself, Rushell recognized two significant opportunities to enhance Oceanside’s culture, increase tourism and bring local businesses more traffic.

With leadership, innovation and tenacity, Rushell has established herself as a pivotal member of the Oceanside community.

The first project focuses on bringing locals and tourists to downtown during the historically slow business off-season, or the time period immediately following Christmas where consumers significantly cut back after weeks of holiday spending. To help mitigate this slump, Rushell began work on Oceanside’s first Mardi Gras. She pulled together a team of business owners to form a committee focused on curating an experience that will, hopefully, become an annual tradition in Oceanside. In collaboration with the City of Oceanside, Mainstreet Oceanside, the Oceanside Chamber, and local business leaders Regie Brown and Kevin Shin, the citywide Mardi Gras will kickoff at the Sunset Market on January 19th followed by 4 weeks of festivities until a culminating, Fat Tuesday event on February 21st at the hotel rooftops and local eateries. During this period, Rushell has encouraged businesses to participate with specials, decorations, events and more. Local schools are also invited to

come out and play music in the streets. To learn more about the Oceanside Mardi Gras celebration and find the calendar of events, please visit visitoceanside.org/ oside-mardi-gras. The second project will honor and celebrate Black History Month. Working with Kristi Hawthorne, Director of the Oceanside Historical Society, Rushell plans to honor past and present black business owners by collecting information, photos and stories. African Americans came to Oceanside for the first time 80 years ago when Camp Pendleton was built. Rushell’s goal is to capture and share their stories along with current day businesses. The program will be held the second week in February at the Brooks Theatre. With leadership, innovation and tenacity, Rushell has established herself as a pivotal member of the Oceanside community. Her creative thinking has brought to fruition a plan to help Oceanside’s business community financially survive a historically low period. Her focus on community will help preserve the legacy of Oceanside’s black businesses. And, she does this all while running a Tea Room. Whether you’re an Oceanside local or just passing through, be sure to stop by Bliss Tea & Treats and immerse yourself in the experience Rushell has created.

(442) 500-4796 BlissTeaTreats@gmail.com 301 Mission Avenue #101 Oceanside, CA 92054 Thursday – Sunday opens daily at 11 am at Bliss Tea @ Treats Tea Room

MADE IN OCEANSIDE What's the Scoop? Q and A with Handel's Homemade Ice Cream

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, an Oceanside Chamber of Commerce member, may be new to Oceanside, but they have been in business for more than seven decades. Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream has been made fresh daily at each store since 1945. The company, which was founded in Youngstown, Ohio, has been recognized for serving one of the “best ice creams” in the world by several notable publications. Each store uses an abundance of only the best ingredients. And we are lucky to get a lick (or two) right here in our own backyard! Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream partner Keith Kesler tells us more.

Q: How long has the company been in business? A: We have been around since 1945 when Alice Handel opened up in her husband's gas station using fruit from her garden. Not long after, that she moved to a building across the street that is still serving the world's best ice cream today. Q: Who founded it? A: Alice Handel

Q: How long has the company been in Oceanside? A: We opened earlier this year in 2022. Q: How many ice cream flavors do you make? A: We have more than150 flavors, but about

50 and any one time. This includes our traditional favorites, unique flavors to Handel's (i.e. Graham Central Station), sherbets, and some vegan flavors. Q: Explain the ice cream making process. A: We use the same formula as the original mix. Our machines are custom calibrated and branded. All ice cream is made one batch at a time, every day and in every store. Many of the ice creams have product added as the ice cream is dispensed (i.e. chunks of Oreo cookies that are hand broken prior). Some have bananas or coconut added into the machine with the mix. It all comes out amazing. Q: Franchising is hot right now. Why do you think that your industry and also franchising, in general, is such a draw for people entering into the workforce or changing careers? A: Franchising lays out the pattern and helps with the general start up, but it is still an individual experience and must be worked on every day. We are a familyowned business and both the corporate office and local stores run the same way. We are involved in the community from day one. I think people will look for a brand that they can identify with and call their own. Corporate jobs are great, but we love to grow our own business as we have the freedom to do that in our country. Q: Explain your training program, especially how you love to work with youth. A: The first training starts with 15 days at the corporate office in Ohio. We call it Handel’s Ice Cream school. Everything from making the ice cream, running a store, to all the behind-the-scenes are covered. Training is three days for all new employees with quizzes given on subject matter. Handel's is a great job for younger workers with the busy pace of the store. Most importantly, what is needed to work with us is a friendly smile and willingness to hustle. We are always having brush-up meetings on trying to do things the right way and looking for ways to serve our customers in an efficient and friendly manner. One of the best things is having our employees move from scooper to shift leads and/or ice cream makers. Personal and professional growth is extremely important even if you aren't going to make a career out of ice cream. This is a great starting place with many going off to college or other careers. We have also moved some of our employees into store manager positions. Q: What’s your favorite flavor? A: Mine is Black Raspberry Chunk. No. 1 in the store is Graham Central Station followed by Chocoholic Chuck, Oreo Dough, Blue Monster, Banana Cream Pie (or any pie flavor), and Monkey Business. Of course, the seasonal flavors are all hits with Pumpkin now and Christmas flavors like Peppermint Bark are coming soon.

Q: Why do you do what you do? What keeps you returning to work every day? A: Family!!! Love of ice cream. Making people smile. Love the kids and our employees. My partners and managers. We like to say, "Communities are happiest at Handel's."

Q: What’s a good business tip you’d like to share with other members? A: Nothing makes up for being involved in the community and at your stores. Q: Tell us about your community engagement and why you do what you do. A: Some activities we regularly do include fundraisers for those in need or at schools, sponsorship of sports teams (school plays, etc.), events and/or festivals, donations to charity events, really, wherever we can find a need.

Find employment, catering, and fundraising information about Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream at https://handelsicecream.com/store/ oceanside/. They are located at 228 N. Coast Hwy, Oceanside. @handelscarlsbad, @handelsdelmar, @handelsoceanside, @handelspacificbeach, @handelssanmarcos, @handelsvista.