Winans Fine Chocolates and Coffees Enjoys Being a German Village Local and Thinking Globally

   Joe and Laurie Reiser, the owners of Winans Fine Chocolates and Coffees understand local. They have been producing and serving hand-crafted chocolates and roasted coffees to the local neighbors of such quaint Ohio communities as Piqua and Troy for over 50 years. And as much as they enjoy their local status in the southwestern areas of Ohio, it almost seemed like karma when the opportunity to become German Village locals presented itself last spring.

     “Laurie and I met in Columbus and loved living here. Since the day we left we’ve talked about moving back.” says Joe. “When the opportunity to open a store in German Village presented itself, we jumped on it. It was an emotional decision, not a strategic one.” he continues.  “But, we know our business and understand catering to a small community like German Village and it a big bonus that it happens to sit within our favorite city.” Laurie adds, “It’s also great opportunity to celebrate our combined German heritage and the German born-and-bred candy maker who helped my Dad perfect his chocolate recipes 50 years ago.”

      Laurie and Joe purchased the Winans business from Laurie’s father Max Winans in 1993 after leaving corporate jobs in Columbus. Joe quickly put his OSU-earned business savvy to work.  The decision to enhance Winans’ traditional product line of caramels, creams, toffees, barks and brittles to include roasted coffees was initially made to feed Joe’s personal morning caffeine needs;  however it was a move which ultimately has earned Winans the “Best Coffee in Dayton” award for the past four years. Joe also broadened the number of stores in and around the Dayton and Cincinnati areas. Winans’ current retail operations are now focused in the central and southwestern portions of the state but its custom gift basket business sends Winans Fine Chocolates and Coffees all over the world.

      Winans cherishes being an Ohio-based company that still handcrafts their own chocolates and roasts their own coffees out of the original Piqua, Ohio location. However, Joe Reiser is also acutely aware of the buy-local movement and is cooking up his own plans to control more sourcing for his primary ingredients; cacao and coffee beans. “Obviously we can’t grow cacao or coffee beans in Ohio but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some direct control over where and how they are produced. We are in process of purchasing some property in Honduras and are establishing crops now that will eventually be utilized in our chocolates and coffees,” Joe states.  He also acknowledges that it is an opportunity for Winans to begin single sourcing their products in a sustainable way while helping to build and shape another local economy. It is something for which he is very proud.

     Joe and Laurie Riser are also very proud to be celebrating Winans’ 50^th year in business.  “It’s quite an achievement and we feel like opening the store in German Village has been the best way to celebrate it,” says Joe. “We love being local.”

      Winans Fine Chocolates and Coffees is located at 897 South 3^rd Street in German Village on the corner of 3^rd and Whittier and is open Monday through Saturday 7:00 am – 8:00 pm and Sunday from 9:00 am – 8:00 pm.

David Cunningham, Edward Jones financial advisor, is optimistic about 2012′s financial outlook

David Cunningham has been a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones for nine years, but has been involved in investing for over twenty.  A graduate of Ohio State University, Cunningham’s management career originated at Rickenbacker Aviation Center at Rickenbacker Airport and later in computer manufacturing at Tracewell Systems.  In 2003, Cunningham decided on a career change to integrate his growing interest and skillfulness in investing with his desire for more autonomy in his work environment. He became a financial advisor with Edward Jones and hasn’t looked back.  “I liked Edward Jones’ commitment to individual and small business investors and recognized the opportunity to focus on clients while having the resources and expertise of a large investment company behind me,” Cunningham states.

Cunningham operates out of a small office in German Village and its central location is a good fit for his mostly urban client base. He states, “German Village is filled with people from all walks of life who believe in hard work and enjoy the riches that come with living in this celebrated community. It is incredibly rewarding for me to help my neighbors think and plan strategically for their futures.”

Trust and respect are at the core of Cunningham’s relationships with clients, most of who were attained through his active community engagement or by word of mouth. “Confidentiality is key to my business and so, while I never share the names of my clients with anyone, it is flattering to me when my clients share my name with others,” he states. Cunningham also takes his commitment to clients to heart. “Good customer service is not enough in this business. I develop strong relationships with each client – I have to. We’re talking about life savings here.  We’re mapping out plans for reaching life goals and addressing unexpected changes that occur along the way.  They trust me and I take that very personally.”

Cunningham is optimistic about 2012. He believes there will be a lot of fluctuation in the market but with a small, gradual upswing.  He notes some of the more recent positives – falling unemployment numbers, a stabilizing housing market, and a lot of cash savings.  Cunningham suggests now is a good time to ensure that IRAs are properly funded and to talk with a financial advisor about tax advantaged investments. He states, “The new year is a naturally good time to re-evaluate your goals and review potential scenarios. Make sure you have a solid plan in place for getting you where you want to be and don’t let the daily swings in the market drive your decision making.  It’s going to be a bumpy ride but I feel good about 2012.”

To talk to David about your financial planning needs, contact him at David.Cunningham@edwardjones.com or at 614.461.5803.

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Urban Style Rooted in Local Hospitality.

As the name reflects, Erika Taylor’s spa is urban, but with a uniquely German Village spirit.  It sits just north of German Village proper in the Hartman Building in what is now known as the “Red Brick District.” Visually the space is upscale contemporary but the tempo and neighborly greetings from staff and customers alike, make it feel less like a salon and more like a local bar where everybody knows your name.

Erika Taylor, of Erika Taylor’s Urban Spa, is very clear that making guests feel welcome and comfortable is priority number one. She is also clear on her feelings that beautiful, upscale accommodation does not equate to high-priced services or stilettos. “Our prices are very reasonable because I believe everyone should be able to afford a little bliss. I want guests to feel equally comfortable walking in here in shorts and flip-flops as dressed for a night out on the town. Most importantly, I want them to walk out, in either case, feeling beautiful.”

Being in the business for twenty plus years, Erika Taylor knows a little something about making people feel beautiful. She started in the early 90s as a receptionist for Stephen Colatruglio’s Short North Salon. She eventually became a licensed nail technician and worked with such well-known stylists as Dennis Cox, Jacob Neal, and Charles Penzone. “Strong stylists with incredible business savvy. I learned so much and credit my experience with them for building the self-confidence I needed to create my own brand.”

Erika started her first salon, The Sanctuary, in the Brewery District in 2001 but took a hiatus in 2006 to focus on family. She successfully re-introduced herself in 2010 with the Erika Taylor Urban Spa and now plans to launch a martini bar in the space to the salon’s north and a workout facility in the space to the south. “It’s ambitious, I know. But you have to understand that I grew up in German Village in the 1980’s. It was such an assertive, invigorating, and caring community. I was influenced by so many bold, inventive urbanites that it feels natural to me to “go big.” I see it as just an extension of my passion to make people blissfully happy. And who isn’t blissfully happy after a great workout, a deep tissue massage and a Cosmo?”

Erika Taylor Urban Spa features an extensive array of hair, skin, nail and health and wellness services.  Their licensed professionals can help you find the ideal rejuvenation treatment for your skin; a massage to relax your body and mind; a treatment to beautify your hands and feet; and a hair treatment to compliment your style perfectly. Ask about Erika’s amazing Valentine’s Day Package featuring Skinmaster Petite Treatment, Relaxation Reflexology for feet or scalp, customized hair therapy treatment & blowout, manicure & pedicure and, of course, chocolate covered strawberries for $225 – normally a $370 value.  Get your bliss on!

Erika Taylor Urban Spa
275 South Fourth Street
Columbus, OH 43215
www.Erikataylorurbanspa.com
(614) 564-9054

Tuesday – Thursday: 10am -9pm
Friday – Saturday:      9am – 6pm
Sunday & Monday:   Closed for private appointments

Specialties include campaigns and brand development from concept to fruition — and anywhere in between. Includes the coordination of all elements of the marketing message, to achieve a consistent, memorable look and feel to the consumer.

Claddagh Irish Pub and Restaurant
A Serving of the Irish Spirit
in the Heart of Ohio

     “The difference between St. Patrick’s Day in the States and Ireland is, in Ireland, you wake up and it’s St. Patrick’s Day. Here, it’s six months of serious planning before it’s St. Patrick’s Day,” states Deirdre Byrne, Claddagh Irish Pub and Restaurant’s general manager and Waterford, Ireland, native. Byrne has been Claddagh’s GM for two years, and this is her third St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Front Street location. As she talks about the big weekend, excitement and anticipation flow out of her like pints of Guinness after a rugby match.

     “It’s going to be a huge day for us – we open at 8 a.m.  We’ll have plenty of live Irish music like Vinegar Hill, Ladies of Longford, Hat Trick, the U2 tribute band One, and McIans. A tent will be set up on the South Green and the Shamrock Club will provide pipes and drums throughout the day and Millennium Academy Irish Dancers will be here as well. Six Nations Rugby will be on and as for the green beer well, we’ll have it… but drink your Guinness for goodness sake.”

     St. Patrick’s Day isn’t the only thing that puts a twinkle in Byrne’s eye. She also has her sights set on setting a new mark in the Guinness Book of World Records for congregating the most number of people dressed as leprechauns in one space, a record currently held by a prep school in South Africa. “We would love the Irish-American community to claim the title right here in Columbus!” states Byrne, and it is that kind of wholehearted spirit that is echoed throughout Claddagh’s general philosophy.

     The Midwestern chain of 15 Claddagh restaurants was the brainchild of Pat McDonagh, founder of Supermac, Ireland’s fast-food version of McDonald’s. McDonagh’s original vision was to serve up a traditional Irish pub experience to Americans; each restaurant having at least one native Irish person in a managerial position, serving traditional Irish pub fare, sometimes with a twist, and adorning space with fixtures and furnishings brought over directly from the motherland.  It’s a formula to help keep the atmosphere authentically Irish, but as Byrne explains, “It takes more than an Irishman and some fish and chips to authenticate an Irish pub. It takes craic.”  Craic (pronounced like crack) is a shortened version of the Gaelic expression “craic agus ceol” which loosely translates to “having passion for what you do and having fun while doing it.”

     “I really do love what I do and feel lucky to be surrounded by such an amazing community of people. It’s like another old saying, ‘There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t met yet,’ and I think it sums up our atmosphere perfectly.  That, and we have wicked craic!”

     Join the pub on March 17 for the St. Patrick’s Day festivities and find out more at their website www.claddaghirishpubs.com.

Claddagh Irish Pub and Restaurant
585 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Open 11 a.m. / 7 days a week

Grey Jones of Grey Jones & Associates
Turning IRS-Troubled Clients Back into Taxpaying Citizens

     Grey Jones is someone the average taxpaying citizen will never meet; however, to many of his clients he is a lifesaver. Grey Jones of Grey Jones & Associates is a tax attorney whose clientele consists primarily of people who are in big trouble with the IRS; people who haven’t paid taxes anywhere from five to ten years.

     Jones’ career started in 1981 when he started working on behalf of Nationwide Insurance as a trial lawyer. His work with them continues to this day, however, in 1985 his practice started handling tax cases and over the years his work began to shift, primarily to tax resolution. When asked about why he allowed the shift to happen, Jones states, “In a trial, you either win or you lose, whereas with resolution everyone wins something. I prefer it that way.”

     Clients come from all over Ohio and from all walks of life but they usually have one thing in common when they approach Jones; they are in crisis mode. “I start putting out the fires – getting liens lifted or renegotiating wage garnishments. Then we work on getting them back on track to begin regularly paying their taxes again.”  Jones readily admits that getting his clients ‘back on track’ at times takes his work beyond the typical attorney-client relationship. “They aren’t dumb. They are incredibly laid-back, beloved people who are simply the biggest procrastinators in the world. They lack structure, so we help them with that.  Sometimes we help them create a budget, train them on QuickBooks, or even create a check-writing tax payment system to follow. Whatever it takes to get them back in the habit of paying the IRS.”

     According to Jones, staying out of trouble with the IRS isn’t all that difficult however, he does offer suggestions for avoiding some common tax-related pitfalls.  The majority of business-related problems Jones encounters stem from employee taxes not getting paid.  So for employers, he recommends regularly checking for proof that Form 941 (Employers’ Quarterly Federal Tax Return) has been filed and paid. For individuals, he recommends carefully calculating the taxes and penalty fees before withdrawing any money from a retirement plan. “Often that money is taxed as income for the year. Many people don’t realize this and don’t set aside enough to cover the taxes.”

     Jones is clearly very proud of the help he has been able to provide his clients and he displays a portfolio of glowing testimonials in his office and on his website. “It’s really rewarding when my clients express sincere appreciation for the work I do.” He grins and adds, “And that is a bit of a departure from my work as a trial lawyer.”

Grey Jones, Esq.
Grey Jones & Associates LLC
529 South Third Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Toll free – 877.698.2953
Office – 614.224.9548
www.columbusohiotaxhelp.com

2012 German Village Art Crawl

Saturday, July 21 * 6-10 pm

The German Village Art Crawl is a nod to the tradition of arts patronage and collecting that continues to this day among German Village residents. The Crawl has morphed over its 15 or so years of existence from a gallery walk, to a dinner with invited artists, to its current feature of local talent and great food and beverages! Several garages along Macon Alley serve as temporary galleries for works by over 30 artists. The event also showcases wares from local businesses and offers samples from neighborhood restaurants, along with adult beverages.

 Tickets will be available for purchase in June -
online or at the German Village Meeting Haus, 588 S. Third St.

David Gaumer of Garden Bouquet

Helping the Village Landscape Flourish

     It’s hard to imagine David Gaumer, a soft-spoken man with earthy hands and well-worn baseball cap, selling men’s suits for J.C. Penny. However, that was the career path that took Gaumer from Mansfield, Ohio, in 1987, to German Village where his gardening talents blossomed into a thriving garden and landscape business.

     Gaumer opened Garden Bouquet in 1993, offering part-time mulching and garden maintenance help to a few friends and neighbors.  Today, Garden Bouquet provides landscape design, maintenance, and small-scale installation services to about forty-five, mostly German Village, residents and businesses. When asked about his favorite aspect of his work he replies, “I don’t really have one – I enjoy it all. I’m kinda old school that way and I think that’s what my clients like about me.  I’m not terribly formal. I can sketch a design up from scratch or I can simply add a little texture or color to an existing setting. I do snow removal in the winter and I’ve even added a few handy-man type projects to my resume. I like being creative and I like having room for flexibility.”

     Gaumer’s old-school work ethic has played a significant role in Garden Bouquet’s success and with his clients he enjoys a reputation for being thoughtful and respectful. “David is not only a good gardener, he’s a really great guy,” states Barbi Tuckerman one of Gaumer’s long-time clients and friends. Gaumer is shy to mention that he retains a large number of his original clients. He does, however, slyly point out that a few of his clients who have moved, have told new homeowners, “We may be leaving, but David stays with the house. You’re going to love him.”

     Gaumer’s dedication and work ethic isn’t contained just to his clients’ yards; it can be found throughout the community.  He is a devoted ‘Dead-header’ for the Huntington Garden, he is a regular volunteer for German Village Art Crawl and he is an active member of the German Village Garten Club.

     This year, Gaumer is co-chair of GartenMarkt, German Village Garten Club’s fundraising event on Saturday, May 12thwhich takes place in front of the German Village Visitor Center.  GartenMarkt features plants and flowers as well as decorative home and garden accessories. “Everyone is welcome and it’s a fun, inspiring event that helps roll in the gardening season,” says Gaumer. He is also eager to spread the word about Jazz and Juleps, the GartenMarkt kickoff event taking place the evening before on May 11th, from 7-9 pm. “It’s a kicked-up version of GartenMarkt that includes delicious food and beverages as well as entertainment. And even if you don’t like gardening, it’s one of the best social events of the year!”

Find out more about GartenMarket and Jazz and Juleps by clicking here.

David Gaumer
Garden Bouquet
842 Mohawk St
Columbus, OH 43206
(614) 395-8854
www.gardenbouquet.org