On August 20, Speech+Smiles Therapy had the ribbon cutting for their first physical location! Owner Tiffany Baronzzi has been a practicing speech therapist for over 14 years. With degrees from the University of South Florida and New York University, Tiffany is thrilled to have found her landing place in the heart of Gahanna where she is supported by physicians, orthodontists, preschools and other businesses.

“Being surrounded by the community felt like the perfect place to have Speech+Smiles,” Baronzzi said. “Speech+Smiles is built from the community and so we wanted to stay close to home.”

Speech+Smiles Therapy treats children with delayed language development, apraxia and stuttering. Baronzzi also assists patients with articulation and social skills. She has specialized training in myofunctional therapy for both children and adults, and she plans to offer occupational therapy and reading tutoring.

“I am humbled and excited for Speech+Smiles Therapy to have a new office space in Gahanna,” she said. “I truly feel so honored to be a part of children’s lives and development. There is nothing better than to hear a child’s first word, finally hearing that challenging speech sound, or seeing a child’s mouth begin to develop correctly with new oral habits. The best is when a child’s face lights up when they are so proud of themselves!”

Baronzzi is a speech pathologist, but she is also a mother who treats her patients as she would want her own children to be treated. When booking an appointment at Speech+Smiles Therapy, you can expect a warm, supportive, and fun environment for your child.

“Every day I am challenged to be the best therapist I can be,” said Baronzzi. “I know Speech+Smiles Therapy is a wonderful asset for Gahanna, and we can’t wait to serve more families with our new office space!”

To learn more about Speech+Smiles Therapy, visit their website at speechsmilestherapy.com

Gahanna’s newest boutique, The Fable Collection, held its grand opening on Saturday, April 11, capping off three days of festivities at 171 N. High Street. Lead-up events included a highly anticipated fashion show on April 9 and a ribbon cutting on April 10, where the Mayor of Gahanna, Laurie Jadwin, applauded boutique owner Terri Birchler with a certificate.

“Last year during the pandemic, I searched extensively for high quality, stylish clothes at an affordable price. Department stores weren’t satisfying my taste or expectations, so I had an epiphany one morning to open a clothing boutique right here in Gahanna,” shared Birchler.

Inspired by Birchler’s concept, her family and friends strategically helped put the business plan into action. After much research, Birchler’s team settled on a name for this women-centric business – The Fable Collection.

“Every month we’re highlighting the real-life story of a local woman. Each highlighted person will assemble three distinct outfits that will be prominently displayed on our story wall. This collection of monthly stories brings both character and community directly into our boutique, giving shoppers a unique, heartfelt experience they can’t encounter anywhere else,” explained Birchler.

As a small business owner, Birchler is committed to helping fellow women discover and embrace their unique style to ultimately improve their self-confidence through custom wardrobe suggestions.

“We’re all cheerleaders here, and we want people to leave feeling great about themselves, no matter how they felt when they walked in. We’re literally cheering for our customers as they step out of our dressing rooms,” said Birchler.

Additional experiential elements The Fable Collection will feature include a book-sharing wall, coffee and conversation station, musical programming, fashion shows, and more. This broad array of experiences will target customers of all ages and backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of Central Ohio.

“As someone who has lived and worked in this area for over 20 years, I knew a community-minded fashion boutique would be very successful in Gahanna. We’ve already made fruitful partnerships with the Gahanna Lincoln High School and local sports teams. My goal is that every female in Gahanna comes to know and love The Fable Collection,” shared Birchler.

Customers can purchase Qualified Apparel items at The Fable Collection, a partnership program which donates 20 meals to Feeding America for each Qualified Apparel item purchased. This endeavor exemplifies the underlying social welfare goals embedded within The Fable Collection’s robust business model.

“It means so much to me to give back, especially to women who are struggling and need a hand up. Thankfully, the conversations on mental health are getting louder and more resourceful both in person and on social media,” said Birchler.

To visit The Fable Collection, on-street and off-street parking is available near 171 N. High Street, including the adjacent north parking lot along Carpenter Road. The Fable Collection broadcasts regular Facebook Live videos and hosts a website.

Since 2004, Joneswear Screen Printing has proven that small business success is dependent upon meaningful community engagement. Located at 979 E. Johnstown Road, this black-owned business has experienced significant growth throughout the pandemic.   “For the past seven years, my business has been in Gahanna. Because I’m centrally located near the airport and surrounding communities, I […]

In November 2021, Landis Crawford and Tottiani Ousley opened Healthy Day Nutrition at 1022 N. Hamilton Road in the Silver Lane Center plaza. As a new black-owned business in Gahanna, owners Crawford and Ousley quickly collaborated with other nearby black-owned businesses to increase the overall area’s customer base and commercial profitability.

“It’s huge to have local black-owned businesses helping each other. Teamwork makes the dreamwork,” said Crawford, who partners with Joneswear Screen Printing and The Whole You Wellness Studio.

As former employees at Raider Nutrition in Reynoldsburg, Ousley and Crawford jumped at the opportunity to open a new business in Gahanna.

“Gahanna is a great place to open your first business, and we know a lot of people in this dynamic community. Setting-up a business in this sunlit space was a quick, turn-key move,” explained Crawford.

Healthy Day Nutrition features over 60 protein shake flavors along with herbal iced teas, including fan favorites Summer Breeze and Pink Starburst. To warm up, customers can order hot chocolates, teas, and shakes, including apple cider, salted caramel hot chocolate, and peppermint Oreo shakes.

“As a business management major in college, I knew I wanted to work in the hospitality industry by providing great customer service. I’ve used many creative approaches to build our customer base and workforce, including customer loyalty programs and fun programming,” shared Crawford.

Healthy Day Nutrition performed a “tea drop” at fellow businesses in the Silver Lake Center plaza, earning new fans from Ange’s Pizza and L.A. Nails, who have marketed Healthy Day Nutrition to their own customers. Walk-in customers from the nearby Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Outpatient Care facility have also helped Healthy Day Nutrition form a strong foundation in Gahanna.

“The crew from Gahanna’s Capital Construction and Remodeling visit us at least once a day and recommended we get our apparel from a nearby black-owned business, Joneswear. It means a lot for us to help fellow minority-run businesses succeed, which is why we’ve also collaborated with The Whole You Wellness Studio, another black-owned business just next door,” exclaimed Crawford.

Crawford and Ousley aggressively partnered with the Gahanna Public School District, where they discovered three motivated crew members. Healthy Day Nutrition is eager to provide sports sponsorships for the volleyball, softball, and track teams. Like many Gahanna businesses, the Gahanna Lincoln High School students frequent Healthy Day Nutrition during their lunch break.

“On top of our outreach efforts, we’re excited to host fun programming here. We have a paint and sip night coming up on February 19 at 4 pm. It’s critical to keep business fun, and this creative event is a great fit for our space,” said Crawford.

To learn more about Healthy Day Nutrition, stop in the shop or visit the website. 

On Saturday, January 15, The Whole You Wellness Studio, located at 1024 N. Hamilton Road, celebrated its grand opening and ribbon cutting with an energized fan base in attendance.  

“I really appreciate all the support from my family and friends. Having my own space here and opening The Whole You has been a dream of mine, but this dream has been made possible by all of you,” founder and CEO Fatima Bouyer shared before a crowd of loyal friends. 

Bouyer’s discipline and work ethic enables her to not only oversee a mix of businesses, but it also inspired her to open The Whole You Wellness Studio in Gahanna. Aside from fitness classes, The Whole You provides reiki treatment, sound baths, massages, meditation, and even a book club, among other services. The culmination of these services supports a mixed group of individuals aiming to improve their overall health. 

“Small businesses are really the heartbeat of our community, and I am thrilled to welcome The Whole You to the City of Gahanna in front of so many supporters,” said Laurie Jadwin, Mayor of Gahanna.  Saturday’s festivities also featured speeches from The Gahanna Area Chamber of Commerce and State Representative Mary Lightbody.  

“The Whole You is unique and different because my services appeal to many types of people, and I want to positively impact different aspects of the same person, too. The start of year is a great time for everyone to focus on their own self-care,” exclaimed Bouyer. 

Bouyer’s entrepreneurial spirit has helped her manifest a bevy of business services. For the past 23 years she has worked full time as an executive assistant, focused on process improvement and systems management efficiencies at large companies. In this role, she worked for Bob Evans Corporate, L Brands, and National Church Residences, among other companies. Working for large companies helped Bouyer develop a vast network of people attracted to her fitness services.  

“My role models include bossy Beyonce and health-focused Michelle Obama. Both are visionaries who whole-heartedly pursued their dreams. I’ve channeled that same determination to pursue my passion for fitness in Gahanna,” explained Bouyer. 

Four years ago, Bouyer started Office Bad Ass, which led to her start Gym Bad Ass, a personal training service that she has operated for more than two years. Additionally, Bouyer launched the Bad Ass Mobile Bartending Service that supports a variety of events and functions throughout Ohio. 

“I’m so fortunate to have discovered this space in Gahanna to bring all my businesses together. The Whole You Wellness Studio feels like a second home to me, and the Gahanna community has treated me so well. The landlord here made the transition into this space really seamless. Everything has been turnkey, and getting my businesses settled into this new space has been a wonderful experience for me,” said Bouyer.  

Visit the The Whole You Wellness Studio at 1024 N. Hamilton Road or discover the services online at https://www.gymbadass.online.