business Business Beat: Crystals, Cookies and an Art Shop Reopening You wouldn’t expect bead-wearing, woven tote-bag-user and owner of Qi Crystal Energy Melissa Loven to have been a part of the corporate world when she lived in California. Today, the Gulfport resident is reinventing the shop at 3125 Beach Blvd. S., a tiny blue building stocked with Brazilian crystals, energy reading books and local art. The storefront, once lime green, was previously Country Harvest Craft Studio. Loven jumped at the chance to open shop last December. “I intuitively knew this was the time to do this; I couldn’t deny it,” Loven said. “If I didn’t take this opportunity now, I’d be selling crystals at shows, or co-oops.” Eventually, Loven plans to turn the small storage area in the back into a teaching space for grid classes and tarot readings. “This is what I’ve always wanted to do – show how you can incorporate healing and art into your life,” Loven said. In the 90s, the Northern Virginia native was in awe of the crystal fads. “They were everywhere. I’d see people testing their food at the market with pendulums,” Loven said. “People have come back to that, an opening up of spirituality, and it’s needed in Gulfport.” More at fb.com/QiCrystalEnergy.
ABBY BAKER
By Abby Baker
Burg Cookie Company Settles Down It all started with dog treats. St. Petersburg-based Burg Cookie Company owner Ashlea O’Connor doesn’t have a sweet tooth, but her “deep dish” cookies have struck a chord with local dessert lovers. The cookie spot, baked into existence in January of 2021, is currently an online venture, but O’Connor is
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moving to a brick-and-mortar location at 1234 Central Ave. in the EDGE District sometime in May. “I either ship them, or personally drop them off,” O’Connor said. “But I really need a storefront.” Pre-COVID, the Tampa native was creating and selling pet treats out of her business on the go, Fido’s Food Truck. “I didn’t really have a thing for it anymore,” O’Connor said. “I started
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