How local businesses are staying afloat

From restaurants to hair salons, the business community in Gainesville, Florida, with a population of over 140,000, is constantly growing and changing. With the lasting effects of COVID-19, increasing inflation, a recession and an ever-changing population due to the incoming and outgoing of the local university's student body, how businesses stay thriving is unique to their business journey itself.

Local businesses here in Gainesville try to stay successful in many different ways. Each local business owner has a unique story, but they all have one thing in common: passion. The following three owners put their heart and soul into their own businesses. While some owners always knew they wanted to start a business, other owners had the idea fall into their laps.

It was a typical week in 2017 for Fremon Williams and his wife when they went to their favorite place, Charlie’s Snow Shack, for a refreshing snowcone. While Williams thought this was going to be like any regular day at Charlie's, he would soon realize that his life would be altered forever.

“We walked in, and the lady said, ‘Hey, we’re actually getting ready to sell Charlie’s or close it down because we can’t find anyone to buy it,’” Williams recounted.

Williams looked at his wife and jokingly made a comment about buying the place. To his surprise, his wife wanted to take him up on that offer.

Williams thought about his 2-month-old child and both his and his wife’s jobs at the moment, and it at first seemed almost impossible at first to take over a business that was already financially unstable. After moments of doubt, Williams came to the realization that maybe this is what he was meant to be doing.

“We said, ‘Alright God, if this is something that you want to happen, you’re going to have to make a way for it.’”

Williams and his wife said a prayer, and that following Friday they went and met with the owner. On August 7th, 2017, Williams was already pre-approved from the bank for a loan to purchase the business. From then on, everything seemed to fall into place. Williams and his wife were now the proud owners of Charlie’s Snow Shack at 14 NW 7th Ave.

The key to a successful business, according to Williams, is the three P’s: the people, the product and the process. For

Williams, the big picture is happy customers. People always come first.

“That’s our main focus; we want people walking in, having a good experience, having the best shaved ice of their life in Gainesville’s happy place, which is Charlie’s Snow Shack. We make sure we focus on the people,” Williams said.

While Williams decided to dance with destiny, another owner, Keith Miller, chose to chase after a dream. That dream was bringing the greatest Philly cheesesteaks to Gainesville. Eventually his dream, Big Mill’s, came to life.

After taking trips to his uncle’s place in Gainesville, Miller decided this is where he wanted to be. He started catering to fraternity houses in 1993, serving lunch and dinner to about 1,200 students.

Since 2002, Miller has been selling his cheesesteaks and other delicious foods to hungry Gator fans along University Avenue.

In March of 2017 Miller opened up the restaurant at 2111 NW 13th St. With the help of his dad, he got to work building the restaurant. Miller couldn’t find any chairs that suited his establishment, so he decided to design chairs himself. Miller, being from Chicago, is a huge Cubs fan so he wanted to show his love for baseball within his furniture and decor.

“I came back here and had to get the chairs sandblasted and powder coated,” Miller said. “I put the sign on the back and every baseball team on the front.”

Miller not only sells a variety of unique cheesesteaks, but he also sells other food like sandwiches, burgers, fries, ice cream and more.

For Miller, the key to success is consistency. Being successful is being able to be consistently good. People want to come back knowing they will only get the best.

“I’m thankful for the customers. I’m thankful for the support. We just continue to work hard and have good sandwiches,” Miller said.

For owner Rachel Hinson, her journey started about four years ago when she decided to open a local business right from her home. Since she was a young girl, Rachel was in the kitchen baking with her grandmother. When her daughter was born ten years ago, she started to take baking classes. Eventually she stopped baking though, and it wasn’t until four years ago that she decided to really do something with it and open Sweet’s By Rachel.

“It’s bringing joy to my life, and I just love doing it,” Hinson said.

Hinson makes wedding cakes, cupcakes, mini cakes, cookies and more. She loves to customize treats for people whether it is for a special occasion or just because.

For Hinson, the key to keeping her business alive is simply having faith. Although Hinson works another day job, she still manages to make the bakery work. She believes in herself and her business and keeps a positive attitude throughout all of the ups and downs she endures.

“It was by the grace of God - By having faith, you know sometimes there would be times I didn’t have any orders, and other times I would be getting up at 2 or 3 a.m. and putting in a full day’s work for my bakery to then go to my day job,” Hinson said.

On top of faith, Hinson believes that owners should never give up, even when times get hard. Her favorite thing about having her own business is having creativity and pride and being able to make something that brings joy to people.

“Don’t give up no matter what. Don’t give up. Keep going. Yeah, you’re gonna have hard times. It’s gonna feel like you’ve hit a brick wall and you just want to sit down and cry, but, you know, you just have to have faith,” Hinson said.

The local businesses that seem to be successful are the ones with passionate owners who realize that it’s the people that make the place. Businesses are able to stay afloat due to consistency, a little bit of faith and a wonderful attitude toward not only their business, but to the employees and customers who allow their businesses to grow.