ASHLAND — A taproom and a home goods store are opening in downtown Ashland. Meanwhile, a salon and a marketing firm have each outgrown their downtown locations and plan to relocate nearby.
Ashland Area Economic Development held a press conference Thursday to highlight small business success and to inform entrepreneurs about resources available to help them start and grow in Ashland.
Ashland Main Street Executive Director Sandra Tunnell said when the Main Street organization started eight years ago, she spent a large chunk of her time trying to convince people that “things are happening and this Main Street thing is for real.”
Now, there’s no denying it.
“There’s a vibe. There’s a palpable feeling downtown, and downtown is selling itself,” Tunnell said.
Downtown Ashland now has a 93 percent occupancy rate, compared to 75 percent when Ashland Main Street started, Tunnell said, adding that the downtown area is actually running out of businesses for sale.
Mayor Matt Miller described two recent instances when business owners or developers from Wooster told him they wanted to come to Ashland because “everyone knows Ashland is the place to be.”
Taproom on Main
Just six months after Uniontown Brewing Company opened on Main Street, downtown Ashland is getting its second craft brew venue just down the street.
Starting next week, The Taproom on Main will be open Thursday through Saturdays in the former Happy Grape location at 47 E. Main St., said Jane Kiplinger, one of three partners who own the new business.
The taproom will have 12 Ohio beers on tap and other brews by the bottle or can, plus Ohio wines and house-made sangria. The taproom will also serve cocktails based on prohibition era recipes and made with liquor from Ohio distilleries.
Among the beers on tap will be Veteran Brewhouse beers brewed by Ashlander Don Welch. Welch has been brewing about 25 years, and his beers are served at Linder’s, The Elks, Shanks and O’Bryans.
Though the taproom will not serve food, a rotating lineup of food trucks will park outside and customers may bring food from the food trucks or elsewhere to enjoy with their drinks.
Taproom on Main’s grand opening will be 4-10 p.m. June 21. Guac and Roll of Perrysville will be the food truck that evening.
Fig & Oak
Just across Main Street from the taproom, John and Julie Mitchell are transforming the former Corinne’s Salon at 112 E. Main St. into Fig & Oak, a home goods store featuring handmade, vintage and repurposed items created by John as well as other furnishings and wholesale goods.
Many products in the store will be from brands that give back to charities, Julie said, and customers will have the option to donate to charity with any purchase.
“Just to give you an example of one of the companies that we’re working with, they’re called Banded. For each headband that you buy, they will give three meals to those in need,” Julie said.
The Mitchells hope to have a grand opening at the end of July and plan to be open Thursday through Saturdays.
Corinne’s Salon
Cori Schiemann started Corinne’s Salon in what is soon-to-be Fig & Oak’s storefront and relocated her business June 1. Corinne’s is now in the former Annette’s Victorian Garden building on Center Street, where Schiemann has room to continue growing her business.
“We moved in there and I busted my butt working on it. We did a lot of rehab, a lot of painting,” she said. “We brought in new stylists, and we have the ability to hire about three more. I’m very excited about that.”
Schiemann said one of her main goals going forward to to expand her male clientele, so she ditched the pink tones from the old location in favor of more gender-neutral hues in the new salon.
Schiemann also recently added a new product line, Davines, which she described as a family-owned, Italian natural product company.
In addition to hairstyling, Corinne’s services include waxing, nails and medical-grade hair and scalp treatments.
Schiemann plans to hold a grand opening at the new salon in August.
Vinyl Marketing
Scott Williams, owner of Vinyl Marketing, started his business in 2015. Located at 12 W. Main St. above Advantage Marketing, Vinyl specializes in inbound marketing, content creation and strategy and is perhaps best known for its videos.
Williams said his team of three just expanded to five last month, and he plans to hire two more employees in the coming months.
“We’re going to outgrow where we’re at, so we’re going to need some more space, and we’d love to stay downtown,” he said.
If Vinyl does expand and relocate downtown, it will join several other businesses that have done the same in recent years, including Ashland Bike Company, Ashland Books, Clothes Minded Boutique, Studio Rise and Corinne’s Salon.
Small business resources
Ashland Area Economic Development works with any business that has potential to create jobs in Ashland County.
“Our office can do anything as small as saying, ‘Here’s a new building available’ or “Here’s some land where you may want to move” or “Here’s somebody that would be a great employee,” up to maybe a business plan or helping connect them with local lenders, real estate agents, lawyers,” AAED executive director Kathy Goon said. AAED can be reached at (419) 289-3200.
Ashland Main Street works exclusively with downtown businesses and can be reached at (419) 281-4584.
The Small Business Development Center at Ashland University provides free consulting for people interested in starting a small business or struggling with small business needs such as marketing. SBDC can be reached at (419) 207-6910.
SBDC director Michalina Lacy is leading a social media marketing workshop 1-3 p.m. at Centerra, 813 Clark Ave. Cost is $10 for Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce members and $20 for non-members. Registration is required and can be completed online at www.ashlandoh.com.
