August 21 - 27, 2015 South County Times 7

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Shop Nicole Rae Boutique For Unique Items At Competitive Prices

South County may not be the first place shoppers think about for a boutique, but it’s a natural for Dana Crosswhite, owner of Nicole Rae Boutique in Concord Plaza.

Entering her third year in business, Crosswhite finds that people are still discovering Nicole Rae in its unexpected location.

“I was born and raised in South County and I realized there were no boutiques in this area,” Crosswhite said. “My family and I live here and are proud to be a part of the community.”

The boutique carries clothing, accessories, jewelry, gifts and home décor items — merchandise that can’t be found in the area big box stores.

The shop buys items from about 500 different vendors, including women’s clothing lines Elan, Lucy Love, Double Zero and Articles of Society.

“We will have something for you” is the store’s motto.

Owning a boutique is something Crosswhite always wanted to do. In 2013, she

decided to go for it.“After raising my two daughters,

I wanted to pursue a longtime dream of owning my own boutique,” said Crosswhite.

Crosswhite created the name Nicole Rae from the middle names of her two daughters. Those two daughters, Kaylan and Ally, both Lindbergh High School students, work with their mother at the shop. Kaylan, Ally and Brittany model many of the shop’s fashions for the Nicole Rae Facebook page, which spotlights new items as they become available.

Crosswhite’s customers tell her they appreciate that the boutique carries unique items at more than competitive prices. They also appreciate the fact that new merchandise arrives weekly.

The shop is open five days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. It is closed on Sunday and Monday.

From L: Ally, Rachel, Kaylan, Dana, Brittany and Julie.

117 Concord Plaza • St. Louis • 314-270-9191

Best Home Furnishings: Proud To Be Made By Americans In America

Best Home Furnishings owner, Carl Boyer, not only takes pride in his business, he takes pride in his country.

Since 2007, Boyer has found that his customers appreciate the fact that Best products available at his store are “American made by Americans in America.”

Best Home Furnishings has been building furniture since 1962, selling furniture made in Southern Indiana. The family-owned company started as Best Chairs and has now become the world’s largest chair manufacturer.

The South County Showroom is located just off Lindbergh Boulevard behind Denny’s restaurant. It has been expanded and now carries a complete leather gallery, in addition to the hundreds of chairs, sofas and recliners, office chairs, sectionals, home theatre products that Best offers. Best Home Furnishings furniture is available in over 700 fabrics and leathers. Customers can find the

perfect piece or complete room group in the fabric or covering they choose.

Best products are made using hardwood frames that are kiln dried and cut in Best’s own lumber plant. Recliners, rocking and gliding mechanisms are supplied by Leggett and Platt, a Carthage, Mo., company.

Customers can select the perfect furniture in their choice of covering and have it in their home in three weeks or less.

“This is the only factory-direct store anywhere in the world for the world’s largest chair manufacturer,” Boyer said.

From the factory in Ferdinand, Ind., product is sent to 4,000 retailers in 38 countries and all 50 states. Here in St. Louis, Best Home Furnishings factory-direct store serves the entire St. Louis metro area and many customers from out-state Missouri and

Illinois. Boyer finds satisfaction

by “making St. Louis homes more beautiful,” he said.

Located at Lindbergh and I55 (behind Denny’s).

11182-B South Towne Square • 314-894-9922www.bhfstl.comLindbergh & 55 South County

behind Denny’s

HOMETOWN business profiles

Boulevard and Manchester Road. Voter education is a key mission of the LWV in St. Louis.

“It is becoming more and more obvious that we need more women elected and represented in our Congress and our state legislatures,” said McDaniel. “I am sure there will be conversations about that as we celebrate.

“I personally worry about a retreat from – and an erosion of – voter rights in this country for different groups,” added McDaniel. “We always have to be on guard for that.”

Crestwood’s Barbara Harris, also a member of LWV, agreed with McDaniel. She noted the U.S. Supreme Court decision that pares back some of the protections provided for minorities under the Civil Rights Act of 1965.

“I think it is right to worry about what some states are doing now when it comes to voter rights,” said Harris. “It’s something to think about as we recall our important date for women’s rights. The league is dedicated to voter rights and I am proud to be a part of it.”

Raise A Glass!Celebrators were definitely up on

their women’s history on Tuesday night as they raised a glass to such past suffragettes as Lucretia Mott, Angelina and Sarah Grimke, Elizabeth

Cady Stanton and more of the early women pacemakers.

Among those honored who were in the suffrage movement and involved in passing the 19th Amendment:• Lucretia Mott, a Quaker minister, who became a force early in the movement, saw parallels in the fight to free the slaves and to free women from the restrictions on their lives. • Susan B. Anthony, who was also an abolitionist and who persuaded several states to grant the right to vote for women before 1920.• Carrie Chapman Cait, who headed the National Women’s Suffrage Association and recruited thousands to the cause.

Breaking The Rules “From the 19th century, I love

Elizabeth Caty Stanton,” said Now. “During her time, women were not to speak before mixed audiences of men and women. She broke the rules and spoke about the Declaration of Independence as the basis for women’s rights in America.

“From the 20th century, I love Alice Paul,” added Now. “She arrived on the scene when women’s issues had grown quiet for a few decades. She was a rabble rouser. Got thrown in jail. Went on a hunger strike. Her radical tactics wore down President Wilson, who finally came out in support of the 19th

Amendment.”Now said she hopes the women’s

rights celebration and future events inspire a new generation of young women to enlist in the cause and to become aware of women’s issues.

“Young women, I am afraid, don’t

understand the long struggle women have had,” said Now. “And the fight has not just been about the right to vote in elections, but property rights, marriage equality, equal pay. There’s still a lot at stake.”

Anniversary Of The 19th Amendment from page 3

Lynda Shaw of Fenton (left) and Barabara Harris of Crestwood (right) attended a celebration held Tuesday at Llewelyn’s Pub in Webster Groves commemorating the 95th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Harris is a member of the local League of Women Voters.

photo by Diana Linsley

8 South County Times August 21 - 27, 2015

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HOMETOWN BUSINESS PROFILES

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The Twisted Tale Of Pretzel Boy’s In Des Peres

Pretzel Boy’s has a twisted tale to tell.The Des Peres shop makes and serves

soft pretzels, pretzel nuggets, hot dogs, homemade dips, custom-shaped pretzels, and sausage and bratwurst pretzels.

Brothers Tim and Matt Garvey and Tim’s wife, Jamie, started Pretzel Boy’s in 2011 with five employees. They now employ 20. The business has expanded in other ways too.

“Our pretzels are sold in more concession stands and cafeterias now,” Tim Garvey said. “Our catering for offices has increased, as have our custom pretzel orders.”

In September, the Garveys are opening a second store at 3802 S. Lindbergh Blvd. in Sunset Hills. If interested in joining the crew, email pretzelboys.jobs@gmail.com.

Garvey gets his greatest business satisfaction from working with the staff.

“We have a great staff composed mostly of students and recent college graduates,” he said.

Garvey himself started the business one year after graduating from Spring Hill College. After learning how to execute the pretzel recipe from a friend in Philadelphia, he headed home to St. Louis to open a pretzel shop.

Although that recipe is classified, Garvey shares other pretzel tips. He advises unbagging the fresh pretzels as soon as possible to avoid sogginess.

“Never store pretzels in plastic,” he cautioned, adding that pretzels can be frozen in a paper bag, then reheated in a microwave oven.

Garvey enjoys talking with customers. “We have formed many relationships

with our customers over the past five years. Through these relationships, we have become very involved in the community.”

Pretzel Boy’s hires neighborhood kids, supports school fundraisers and sponsors

donation days for local charities.

From L: Kristine Carey, Will Rohlfing, Tim Garvey, owner, Austin Chambliss and Louie Condellire.

11750 Manchester Road • Des Peres • 314-835-96983802 S. Lindbergh Blvd. • Sunset Hills

www.stlpretzelboys.com

Shop Sugar Magnolia For The Perfect Bra & Specialty Lingerie

Sugar Magnolia Boutique, Webster Groves’ specialty lingerie and bra shop, fea-tures custom-fit bras and offers loungewear, intimates, bridal, burlesque and maternity lingerie, as well as hosiery, jewelry, soaps and candles.

“I have always loved lingerie, but after 16 years of marriage and three children, I didn’t even recognize my own body,” said shop owner Lisa Davis.

Left frustrated by the lack of options and the difficulty in locating a proper-fitting bra, Davis founded Sugar Magnolia in February 2012. The goal was a unique specialty shop that provides a personal experience, as well as an array of sizes.

“We’re trying to fill the void between a boring bra shop and a swanky adult store,” Davis said.

Owner Lisa Davis, Ellen Mazur, Judi Winfrey and Megan Heath make up Sugar Magnolia’s team. While Davis has a true passion for lingerie, Mazur, Winfrey and Heath bring their savvy fashion ideas, knowledge of the products

and cheerful smiles – making them the per-fect team!

“We are changing the way women feel about themselves, one bra at a time,” Davis said.

Recent research showed that about 80 percent of women are wearing the wrong bra size. An ill-fitting bra can cause neck, back and shoulder pain.

“At Sugar Magnolia, you will be fitted by one of our specialists and given the knowl-edge to help you understand why a great fit-ting bra is so important for every woman – no matter her size,” Davis said,

Customers say they love the array of bra sizes from cup sizes AA to N and band sizes from 28 to 50. The shop also carries lacy, silky, risqué and romantic styles, plus special made-in-the-shop garters.

“Whether you’re seeking the perfect gift, a custom special order, space for a party, or a basic everyday bra, you can expect a comfortable, high-ly personalized shopping experience at Sugar Magnolia,” Davis said.

From left: Judi Winfrey, Ellen Mazur, Lisa Davis. (Not pictured: Megan Heath)

38 N. Gore Ave. • Webster Groves • 314-395-9159www.sugar-magnolia.com

Taste The Farm-To-Table Difference At Great Harvest Bread Co.

The farm-to-table food concept has been growing in popularity across the country, and Great Harvest Bread Co. is a perfect example of it in practice.

“The idea is that foods we find on our table can be traced back to their points of origin and don’t have added chemicals or food additives,” said Judy Honigfort, who owns the bakery with her husband, Tom. The main staple in most breads and baked goods is Montana-grown, non-genetically modified whole wheat.

“Our wheat is hand-selected from Montana family farms and shipped directly to us as berries,” Honigfort said. “We then mill those berries into wheat here in our bakery, and bake with it within 48 hours.”

Baking with freshly milled wheat produces a flavor like no other and enhances the bread’s nutritional value.

When customers add butter to their free Great Harvest slice of bread, they often ask where they can find that wonderful butter, Honigfort said. “But it’s not

the unsalted butter that’s different. It’s the bread. Most customers aren’t used to tasting butter on freshly milled wheat bread with no additives or preservatives.”

Great Harvest also sells cookies, scones, muffins and bars, as well as specialty merchandise such as gourmet nut butters and jams.

“Great Harvest is a great resource for health-conscious consumers because our baked goods contain no additives, preservatives or dough conditioners,” Honigfort said.

Customer services is also an important ingredient at Great Harvest.

“Many of our staff members were fans of Great Harvest before they became employees,” she said. “In fact, most of our

counter staff are moms who have purchased our bread for their

families. They can relate to customers looking for that something special, and they can make recommendations for an everyday, nutritional

sandwich bread.”

Tom and Judy Honigfort.

125 W. Argonne • Kirkwood • 314-821-1848www.greatharvestkirkwood.com

Martha’s Hands Home Care: Compassionate Partners In Life CareDoes an elder family member or friend

need a little help to stay in their home? You can place your trust in Martha’s Hands. Our nurse care manager will visit with the client and their family to customize care.

What separates Martha’s Hands from other agencies is their unique Nurse Care Manager approach. All clients receive care oversight by a registered nurse, with access to them 24/7.

Typical services include bathing and dressing assistance, meal preparation/clean-up, medication set-up and reminders, light housekeeping, laundry, errand running, and companionship.

Eileen Hedrick founded Martha’s Hands on a mission of “Love through Service”. While a nursing student, Eileen was taught by the Sisters of Mercy, emphasizing total wellness. Eileen applied this mission in her nursing career.

They are regularly looking for compas-sionate individuals willing to serve the needs of the elderly. Martha’s Hands provides train-ing and matches a caregiver’s skills with the client’s needs. Their nurse supervisor intro-duces the new caregiver to the client, and reviews the care plan to make everyone feel comfortable.

Affording care can be a concern. Martha’s Hands can assist clients in discovering poten-tial funding sources and care options.

Martha’s Hands is actively involved with the Home Care Association of America, Missouri Alliance for Home Care, Alzheimer’s Association and the Kirkwood Chamber of Commerce.

Eileen’s daughter, Denise Hedrick Huber, co-owns Martha’s Hands and has become more involved in running the business, work-ing to continue Eileen’s original mission of “Love through Service.”

Since 1997, Martha’s Hands has provided over 3,000,000 hours of compassionate, private-duty home care. Martha’s Hands is locally owned by Denise Huber and Eileen Hedrick.

www.marthashands.com • 314-965-4350

August 21 - 27, 2015 South County Times 9

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Common Cents Rental Sells, Rents Repairs Outdoor Equipment

Common Cents Rental Inc. is approaching its seventh anniversary.

The family company, which opened in 2009, carries major equipment brands, including Echo, Grasshopper, Husqvarna, Hustler Turf, Redmax, Tanaka, Toro and Shindaiwa and Fisher Snow Plows to its line of sales and repair.

“We have also just added Scags to our line-up featuring Scags mowers and Giant-Vac, said Jennifer Ficken, who owns the business with her husband Bryan.

Customers can rent a wide range of lawn and power equipment, including air tools, aerators, backhoes, chain saws, concrete tools, drain snakes, flooring tools, pallet forks, skids, welders and snow plows.

The couple acquired the business from the retiring previous owner. It was a good fit because Bryan Ficken has worked in lawn and garden his whole life. So it was only natural to add a lawn and garden component to the business, building on the base of his longstanding customers.

In the past seven years,

“we have grown leaps and bounds because of wonderful customers who have recommended us,” she said. “We are now in the process of expanding our facility to include the building next door.”

Customers appreciate that Common Cents prices are fair and realistic and that the rental equipment is in very good shape, Ficken said.

Jennifer Ficken gets the most satisfaction in her job from “customers being pleased with our work, friendliness and willingness to work with them,” she said. “We have recently made some staffing changes to better serve our customers.”

Although summer may yet bring some hot days, fall and winter are just around the corner.

“Keep us in mind for aerator rental and seed, as well as salt and snow plows,” Ficken said. She noted that aeration is especially important this year to fight the fungus that is causing brown spots on the lawn.

Bryan and Jennifer Ficken

1080 Gravois Road • Fenton • 636-326-4888www.commoncentsrental.com

Shop UniQue Ideas ‘N More For Personalized, Affordable Custom Gifts

No two gifts need to be the same when shopping at UniQue Ideas ’N More.

The Fenton Plaza personalized gift bou-tique has been putting individual touches on gifts since 2007. They offer a wide variety of embroidery, vinyl lettering, monogrammed jewelry, custom T-shirts and apparel, home de-cor, school spirit wear, embroidery and more.

“We wanted to offer the community cre-ative ideas and personal gifts at affordable prices for any occasion,” said Michele Van-Tuyl, co-owner of the store.

UniQue Ideas ‘N More moved to its cur-rent location in 2012 after outgrowing their first two places. The boutique was started by VanTuyl and production manager, Gina Burl-ison and two close friends: Pat Pendleton, of-fice manager and Karen Baumann, sales asso-ciate, and now she partners with her mother, Diane Bade.

“We have grown into a much larger location, offering a wider variety of items for wedding, baby, birthdays and holidays, more custom apparel and home decor choices avail-

able than ever before,” said VanTuyl.The staff is a tight-knit group. “They will

go out of their way to help customers create a special gift, even if it’s something that’s not actually displayed in the store.” said VanTuyl.

VanTuyl derives satisfaction from hearing from customers that the shop’s prices are af-fordable so just about anyone can purchase personalized gifts and custom apparel for more than just a few people in their lives.

Customers also see the success the store has achieved over the years.

“I love hearing how much they love our selection of merchandise,” said VanTuyl. “However, more importantly, nothing pleases me more than when I hear they love our cus-tomer service – so friendly and personable.

“If I didn’t have the outstanding employ-ees that I have, our store wouldn’t be where

it is today and our customers wouldn’t be as happy, she said.

Watch for announcements about Girls Night Out, the Fall Fashion Show and our annual Holiday Open House.

From L: (Front row) Pat Pendelton, Gina Burlison, Betty Coffman, Jan Fanetti, Kathy Foshage. (Back row) Jacqui Wahby, Michele VanTuyl, Karen Baumann, Kailey Beckett. Not pictured: Kevin Goessling, Diane Bade.

58 Fenton Plaza • Fenton • 636-343-2200www.uniqueideasnmore.com

Whether shopping for a single window treatment, redecorating an entire house or seeking the solution to a complex design challenge, Show Me Blinds & Shutters in Kirkwood, a gallery store for the Hunter-Douglas brand, can help.

Show Me Blinds has been offering sales and installation on a wide range of window treatments since 1996.

Veteran design consultants Marcia Hermann and Libby Blake can help custom-ers select from limitless combinations of color, texture, fabrics and function during a free home consultation. Every order is custom designed, measured and made. Bob Starr performs the installations.

Show Me Blinds was one of the first Hunter Douglas Gallery® stores established in the United States 10 years ago. All Hunter-Douglas products are made in the U.S.A.

The connection with the well-known Hunter-Douglas brand gives the store the aura of a “small business with big values.”

Customers love that Show Me Blinds is a small family business in Kirkwood.

For the staff, the best aspect of their work is seeing homeowners’ excitement after their new window treatments have been installed.

We provide free in-home design consulta-tion, quote, measuring and installation.

Customer satisfaction is an important part of the business.

From left: Bob Starr, Libby Blake, Barry Bornstein, Marcia Herrmann, Terri Johnson and Gary Lerner.

Show Me Blinds & Shutters: “Small Business With Big Values”

933 S. Kirkwood Road • Kirkwood • 314-909-1177Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

www.showmeblinds.com

The Milfords Have Helped To Create Beautiful Kitchens & Baths Since 1969

The Milford family has been helping cus-tomers with kitchen and bath updates since 1969. Tim Milford and his wife Rita, the sec-ond generation, now run Milford Kitchen and Bath at its Fenton showroom.

Milford Kitchen and Bath is a showroom for homeowners, contractors, and its custom-ers to purchase quality kitchen and bath prod-ucts. Milford is a Registered Kohler Show-room and Moen Showroom of Distinction. In addition to Kohler and Moen fixtures, it offers kitchen and vanity cabinets as well as coun-ter tops in various materials including onyx, quartz and granite.

“We have full-time kitchen and bath de-signers helping customers with space plan-ning and product selection, said Showroom Manager Rita Milford.

Tim Milford’s father and uncle, Tom Milford and Rob-ert Allan, established Milford Plumbing Supply Co. in 1969 in North St. Louis near Sport-man’s Park. In 1973, the com-pany moved to South County.

Over the years, Milford Supply has expanded with branches in St. Louis City at 4219 S. Kingshighway near Chippewa and in St. Charles at 1799 Ford Lane.

Recently, Milford Supply acquired Sou-lard Plumbing Supply, a company that has been in existence since 1954, and located at 78 N. Gore in Webster Groves. The Milfords are excited about the addition of Soulard Plumbing and are happy to be a part of the Webster Groves community. Plans to renovate and expand the Soulard showroom are forth-coming. This showroom is a great location for area residents.

Rita Milford most enjoys working closely with customers and seeing a project go from

idea to reality. Customers often compli-

ment the Milfords on their customer service and refer other customers to the store.

“Customers are pleased that we work with their bud-gets and offer several price op-tions,” Milford said.

From L: Rita Milford, Stephanie Sepe and Marchay Bell.

Milford Kitchen & Bath936 Brookwood Center • Fenton • 636-717-0700

Soulard Plumbing78 N. Gore • Webster Groves • 314-961-8626

HOMETOWN BUSINESS PROFILES