SouthCoast businesses celebrate a year of progress

Editor's note: The Small Business Beat debuted during 1998 to bring the personalities behind small shops to the forefront. Here's a look back at some of the SouthCoast's entrepreneurs.

Early in the year I wrote about the White Knight Gallery, located at 132 S. Main St. in Acushnet.

The White Knight Gallery is a gift shop that also features work by local artists.

When I called this week I spoke to Alda Roderiques, who is co-owner with MaryBeth Vargas. Ms. Roderiques said that business has been booming.

The Christmas season was so busy she hadn't even had time to do paperwork for all of December. The store was closed when I called, but Ms. Roderiques was spending the day trying to catch up with her paperwork.

Ms. Roderiques estimates that only about 10 percent of Christmas business came from new customers. A clientele of repeat customers has helped make the business a success.

Susan Young has moved her consignment business, Everybody's Hang-up, from Dartmouth Street to 37 Rockdale Ave. in Howland Plaza. Ms. Young said that the new location is much better.

"It's easier to get to, but we still have the same kinds of things going on," said Ms. Young. She said that she has just completed a successful food drive. During the Christmas season, Ms. Young offers a 20 percent discount to anyone who donates a non-perishable food item.

The store is currently running a clearance sale.

Everybody's Hang-up will be celebrating its third anniversary in February; watch for special events.

I also wrote about two other consignment shops during 1998. A few months ago, Debbie Longworth closed the doors of her bridal consignment shop, Little Treasures, at 132 S. Main St. in Acushnet. And Theresa Cormier sold her children's consignment shop, Children's Express, at 486 Orchard St., shortly after I wrote about the business.

Kim Foisey of Acushnet was running a quilting business called YesterYear Creations. Mrs. Foisey was sewing custom-made quilts and conducting classes at Lakeville Craft Supply and Quilters Cottage in Acushnet.

Mrs. Foisey is on a sabbatical. The Foiseys have a new son. Mrs. Foisey said that she is in temporary retirement until Carter is a little older, but she looks forward to picking up her business again at that time.

Gilberta DoRosario is still carving her beautiful ostrich eggs and etching glass at the Dream House, located at 141 Union St., New Bedford.

Ms. DoRosario said that business is picking up a little and looks forward to better tourism seasons. She said that people are coming back.

Ms. DoRosario said that she received a call just before Christmas from a man in Dallas. It seems that he and his wife had been visiting New Bedford and stopped into her shop. His wife fell in love with a particular emu egg. He had her ship it out to him as a Christmas gift for her.

Donna Manna's Orchard Street, New Bedford, Manor Bed and Breakfast has been at full capacity all summer and is still busy.

Mrs. Manna said that she has had to turn people away.

Mrs. Manna said that there is definitely a need for bed and breakfasts in New Bedford and encourages others to open them.

Affordable Home Improvements owner Tom Mendes said that his business is growing rapidly. Mr. Mendes said that compared to last year at this time, he is much busier. He has had work right through the Christmas season. Mr. Mendes specializes in vinyl siding and replacement windows.

Mr. Mendes said that he has recently received an award from Certainteed Vinyl for a home that his crew sided at 7 Nye's Lane in Acushnet. Mr. Mendes said that his company currently owns three vehicles and is planning to add another next year.

"But I don't want to get too big," he said. "I'm happy the way I am."

European Kitchen's co-owner Richard Langlois has changed the style and name of his restaurant. He and his mother Joanne Langlois introduced pizza to their menu. This change went over so well that they closed the restaurant for two weeks, renovated and changed the name to Brooklawn Pizzeria.

Brooklawn Pizzeria is located at 1900 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday.

The one thing that they did not change was making and serving goumpkie. These are served on Wednesdays only and usually sell out early.

For Barbara Sullivan, business is great at Lil' Bit of Heaven.

Lil' Bit of Heaven is a florist and Christian book store located in downtown New Bedford at 109 William St.

Ms. Sullivan is assisted by her daughter Jane, who said, "The Christmas season has been better than we anticipated, but more important is the reception that we have received from the people downtown."

People like having her shop downtown, she said. Lil' Bit of Heaven will be celebrating its first anniversary on March 18, and Ms. Sullivan is planning a special event.

Harbour Bouquets is the other downtown florist. This little shop was located at Merrill's Wharf, but owner Nancy Teixeira recently moved to 52 Union St. Ms. Teixeira is now sharing space with our own Hetty Green, Edie Nichols of Rent An Event.

The merge seems to be working well. Harbour Bouquets is more visible on Union Street. Ms. Teixeira said that business is getting better since the recent move. With the closing of Queequeg's, she was the only tenant at the Merrill's Wharf location.

Harbour Bouquets offers a variety of exotic flowers and arrangements served with a pleasant attitude. You will always hear Ms. Teixeira say, "Have a bloomin' good day!" as you leave her shop.

Gloria & Co. is a full-service salon for beauty and wellness. Owner Gloria Perperas moved in July from her location on Ashley Boulevard. The salon is now located at 211 Alden Road in Fairhaven. The new salon is much larger and better equipped. Mrs. Perperas now offers a whole menu of treatments.

I recently visited the new salon and had the pleasure of being the recipient of a Vichy shower. This is the ultimate of massages. Two hours of being pampered with body oils, massage and water. Absolutely divine. Everyone should have a Vichy shower at least once in his or her lifetime.

Mrs. Perperas said that her business has grown tremendously, and I can understand why. You are absolutely pampered at Gloria's from the moment you walk in the door.

One of the most pleasant visits that I made was to the Wisteria Tea Room at 85 Huttleston Ave. in Fairhaven. Owner Rebecca Barbero Lowman has transformed the old Barbero's Restaurant into a Victorian setting, and offers tea and light lunches as well as children's birthday parties. The newest addition at the Wisteria Tea Room is children's teas. The tea room offers "yummy bear" tea, "tooti-fruti" tea and bubble-gum-flavored tea for the young visitors.

I have only highlighted some of the stories that I covered during 1998. To write about them all would have taken a full page. I know that many of them are doing very well. This has been a good year for a lot of small businesses. To all of you, I wish you a profitable 1999. Happy New Year.