These locally owned businesses opened in time for the holidays


MORE ONLINE

Find out where to shop Black Friday in Butler and Warren counties and Small Business Saturday specials at local stores online only at www.journal-news.com

Keep up with the latest from this reporter on Twitter @CLevingstonDDN

Several new small businesses have recently opened doors across Butler County and offer consumers seeking to fill shopping bags this weekend at locally owned storefronts new options to do so.

Saturday marks the sixth annual Small Business Saturday, a nationwide event created by American Express to encourage shopping small as a way to keep more dollars in local communities and boost the economy.

Journal-News compiled the following list of some of these new locally owned stores.

Flores Leather Works, 1050 Central Ave., Middletown

In about four years, Flores Leather Works has grown from a hobby, to a part-time storefront at Pendleton Art Center, to a full-time business, said Eber Flores, who co-owns the retailer with wife Rebekah.

The company sells homemade leather goods such as holsters, belts, bags, wallets and jewelry.

Originally, Eber wanted something nice made from leather but it was too expensive. After research and practice, a hobby became a home business until it evolved into something more.

After moving into Pendleton in downtown Middletown earlier this year, the business has already outgrown the space and needed more room to fit workshop equipment, Flores said. Now, Franklin residents Eber and Rebekah are opening their own storefront at 1050 Central Avenue with a grand opening on Small Business Saturday.

What sets the local business apart is its custom, high-end, but affordable products, Eber said.

“We offer a product that will last a lifetime, so if you get a gift from us, it’s a gift someone can keep for a very long-time,” he said.

Grand opening hours Saturday are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. After that, regular hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays. Additional weekend hours will be added following the holidays, he said.

In addition to the new Middletown store, shoppers can also buy Flores Leather Works items at Liberty Center store Celebrate Local.

Society, 1626 Central Ave., Middletown

513-649-8404

"Infatuated with downtown Middletown," owner Lydia Montgomery opened in July the variety store selling women's fashion and accessories, stationary, home goods, barware, gifts, novelty items, candles and incense, and beauty, bath and spa items.

“We’re extremely eclectic,” Montgomery said about her first business. “We have something for everybody.”

Regular store hours are: closed Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. During First Fridays of the month in Middletown, Society stays open longer from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

However, Society will have special hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Black Friday and extended Small Business Saturday hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Also this Saturday is a 10 percent sale off the entire store. The first 15 people who spend $75 or more will receive a free tote bag packed with merchandise valued at about $100, Montgomery said. Other customers will receive free tote bags as long as supplies last, she said.

Where I'm From, Cincinnati Premium Outlets, Monroe

Two Ohio natives opened the new store this month at Cincinnati Premium Outlets that sells apparel and accessories featuring Ohio, major state cities and several universities, according to the shopping center.

The Columbus-based retailer called Where I’m From was started by Ohio University roommates, according to the outlets.

Ruby's Chocolates, located inside The Foundry at Liberty Center, Liberty Twp.

The gourmet dessert retailer expanded in October from wholesale products found on store shelves at Jungle Jim's International Market and Dorothy Lane Market to open its first storefront at the Liberty Center development on Liberty Way.

Ruby’s also supplies weddings and special events.

At Liberty Center’s enclosed mall The Foundry, Ruby’s Chocolates sells chocolate-covered coffee beans; truffle cakes, which are small chocolate-covered cakes filled sometimes with a ganache center; buckeyes with almond butter and other specialty nut cores; a Squeal Appeal product line including caramel-drizzled and chocolate-coated bacon; and more.

Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays to Saturdays; and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Rookwood Pottery, 7135 Foundry Row, Liberty Center, Liberty Twp.

513-755-1698

The well-known Cincinnati ceramic maker and retailer opened a new storefront in October at Liberty Center, where it hopes to gain younger and new customers in a new market, said Micah Carroll, vice president. Plans are to also expand pottery to a home goods line, Carroll said.

Celebrate Local, 7127 Foundry Row, Liberty Center, Liberty Twp.

614-886-6446

Celebrate Local, which started at Easton Town Center, opened a second location in October at Liberty Center.

The retailer sells products and services made by small business vendors. It mainly sells only Ohio-made art, apparel, wine, beer, food and more. But it accepted vendor applications — such as Flores Leather Works — from throughout the Tristate for the new Cincinnati-area store opening, company officials say.

Closed Thanksgiving, Celebrate Local opens for Black Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to www.liberty-center.com.

Renaissance Fine Art Supplies, 218 High St., Hamilton

513-795-7035

The first street-level retailer to open in Hamilton's Artspace building downtown made its debut earlier this month, said Rick Jones, who opened the small business with wife Chris and son Brandt Jones. Rick Jones retired as the director of the Fitton Center for Creative Arts earlier this year.

The store sells art supplies including graphite pencils, colored pencils, charcoal, paint, brushes and more, Jones said.

Hours are: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Small Business Saturday hours are also 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with many items 10 to 30 percent off, according to Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

InsideOut Studio, 140 High St., Hamilton

513-857-5658

A ribbon cutting and grand opening was held Tuesday at the studio, located in the former Elder-Beerman building downtown.

InsideOut is a program of the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities and provides opportunities for adults with disabilities to produce, market and earn an income from the sale of their artwork, according to Wendy Planicka, spokeswoman for the board.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Visitors on Saturday will be entered in a drawing with every purchase for a chance to win a holiday gift basket valued at $75, according to the Hamilton chamber.

Lillian's, 11 S. Third St., Hamilton

513-857-7283

The women’s clothing boutique opened this month, said owner Gina Hudson, who named the business after her mother.

“I’ve got a different variety of unique sweaters and items and the prices are very reasonable,” Hudson said.

Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, she said.

About the Author