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Men's Hair Quarter - Middletown

   There’s a baseball game on one TV and ESPN Sports Center is on a second TV. The walls are decorated with pro sports team pennants and autographed photos of sports stars. Sports magazines are scattered about on two comfortable couches. That is the decor and atmosphere at the Men’s Hair Quarter on West Main Road in Middletown.Kim Soo Seawell opened the salon, which caters primarily to men, in September 2000, after receiving a $25,000 SBA MicroLoan from the Rhode Island Coalition for Minority Investment (RICMI).

SBA MicroLoans are direct loans that range from $2,000 and $35,000. RICMI is the SBA MicroLoan intermediary in Rhode Island.

The Men’s Hair Lounge provides the traditional services of a barber shop with the convenience of a salon that accepts appointments. The salon also offers highlighting and coloring services and includes a room for men who want to have their hair colored in privacy. Although the business specializes in men’s hair care, it is not exclusively a salon for men.  

Kim Soo was born in Soeul, South Korea and adopted at age 5. She was raised in Framingham, Massachusetts. Graduating from Bentley College with a degree in management, Kim went to work in the banking industry. Six years later, Kim Soo decided on a career change and enrolled in a hairdressing school. 

After working at several hair salons in Massachusetts, Kim Soo moved to Rhode Island and began to develop her idea for the hair salon. Her first stop was the Newport County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Development Center. Kim Soo enrolled in several seminars on financing, marketing and bookkeeping.   She was also introduced to John Nelson, a former banker, who provides consulting services for the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center. John has had many years of experience in working in the commercial lending department of several banks and as a consultant for the RISBDC, he has a lot of experience that he brings to small business. John worked with Kim Soo to develop a business plan. Kim Soo estimated that it took about nine months to complete her research and to obtain the funding for the project. She also had to do quite a bit of renovation work to get the salon ready.  

The clientele at Men’s Hair Quarter is increasing steadily. The business now boasts of 800 regular customers, and 95 percent are men. Kim Soo realizes the power of referrals, as her business is growing as a result of her customers’ word-of-mouth advertising. 

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Abbott Valley Veterinary Center - Cumberland

Joyce Gifford opened Abbott Valley Veterinary Center in Cumberland, Rhode Island in October 1995 with the last direct loan made in Rhode Island by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Dr. Gifford has since obtained additional SBA-backed funding to expand her practice. She most recently obtained a SBA 504 loan through Ocean State Business Development Authority and The Washington Trust Company to purchase land, renovate an existing building, and add a grooming salon. The new facility is just a short distance from her original veterinary center on Diamond Hill Road in Cumberland.

Dr. Gifford graduated fifth in her class at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and interned at the world-renowned Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston. She had the education, experience and vision to start her own practice. What she lacked was the business acumen.  

She applied at two banks but was turned down because of a lack of equity investment and collateral. In frustration she turned to the SBA and SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business for help. SCORE provided the advice and counseling she needed to develop a sound business plan. Joyce was able to obtain the needed equity investment through the support of her family and thus obtained the financing needed to open Abbott Valley Veterinary Center.

Dr. Gifford’s practice grew to over 2,000 patients, and she was able to add more staff over time. Her plans were falling into place when adversity struck. A few years after opening her practice, Joyce was diagnosed with cancer. She struggled to battle the disease and still keep her business operating. She credits the support of her family, staff and patients with getting her through that challenging period. Today, Joyce is cancer-free and has been able to focus on expanding her practice.

Clients who walk into the new Abbott Valley Veterinary Center see the change immediately. The reception area is bright and very spacious. The facility is more than double the size of the old location with state-of-the-art treatment rooms. There is 2,800 square feet of space on the first floor and 1,600 square feet on the lower level for storage and a new grooming salon.

The staff has grown from 9 to 13, including a pet groomer and an assistant. There are now separate areas for housing dogs and cats and even an isolation room for pets with contagious diseases or those more seriously ill. 

Dr. Gifford says her experiences with SBA and SCORE have been wonderful and adds that she would not have been as successful without their guidance, enthusiasm and encouragement.

Ada's Creations - Providence

Ada Terrero has taken a hobby and turned it into a successful small business, Ada’s Creations, on Providence’s South Side. Ada, born in the Dominican Republic, moved to Rhode Island in 1984. 

In 1989, to supplement her income, Terrero started baking cakes, pastries and favors and selling them from her home. She was so successful that rented a store at 1359 Broad Street, Providence, where she opened her bakery. By 1994, Ada relocated to a larger facility at 1266 Broad Street where she could better handle the increased request for special occasions, showers, weddings, etc.  

In 2002, Ada purchased the building at 1137 Broad Street with a loan from Bank Rhode Island and guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. She was also instrumental in receiving financing from Providence Economic Development Corporation.  Ada began major renovations and improvements, purchased new equipment, furniture and fixtures, and obtained a liquor license from the city. The restaurant opened with a seating capacity of 125. Ada recently opened a function room on the second floor, and now has a staff of 18. She is hoping to purchase adjacent property to expand her kitchen.

Your purchase through this link helps to provide free resources to the community through the Central Rhode Island Business Information Center and supports the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce in fulfilling our mission.  

Brewed Awakenings Coffee House - Providence & South Kingstown

Whether touring historic Providence, meeting business associates, friends, or stopping on the way to work or the beach, Brewed Awakenings Coffee House has something for everyone. Brewed Awakenings is located in the heart of Downtown Providence, in Union Station Plaza, and on Route 1 in South Kingstown.

Brewed Awakenings offers a casual, yet elegant surrounding, soft leather chairs, computer work stations with Internet access, and an extensive menu that features 14 varieties of gourmet coffee, espresso, cappuccino, latte, and chai. They offer fresh baked muffins, bagels and Danish along with biscotti, cookies and fine cakes.

David Levesque started the original Brewed Awakenings on Atwood Avenue in Johnston seven years ago as an extension of Levesque’s wholesale coffee business. The coffee shop had just four seats and a counter. Word quickly spread about the delicious coffee and soon customers were filling the 2,000 square foot shop.

David’s entrepreneurial journey began at Johnson & Wales University where he managed the University’s vending machines and supervised three employees. Vending machine sales totaled $380,000 annually.  In 1991, Levesque started his wholesale coffee distribution business, East Coast Coffee Company. David expanded his business by opening a small gift store, Bella Baskets, in Johnston.  

By 1996, David had teamed up with a competing company to form Ocean Coast Beverage Company. He decided to focus his attention solely on the wholesale coffee business and closed Bella Baskets in 2000. Ocean Coast Beverage Company was very successful, and David decided to venture into the retail coffee business with the opening of the first Brewed Awakenings shop in 1996.  

By January 2001, David sold his interest in the Ocean Coast Coffee Company and used the proceeds to help fund the downtown Providence project. He needed more capital, and he turned to Fleet Bank, which provided an SBA-backed loan. The Providence Economic Development Corporation also provided financing.

In July 2001, after six months of hard work, the second Brewed Awakenings held its grand opening.  

Brewed Awakenings seats over 100 persons. The company employs a staff of 14 downtown and 15 at the Johnston location.

Brewed Awakenings is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and until midnight on weekends and for special events.  

With its beautiful detailed wood craftsmanship and leather couches, there is no doubt that the downtown Providence Brewed Awakenings is one of the most elegant coffee houses in New England. It is also making a major contribution to the renaissance of Providence.

Fenestration Architectural Products - East Providence 

What do the Rhode Island Convention Center, the Westin Hotel, T. F. Green Airport, the Manchester Street Power Station, and the new Providence Public Safety Complex all have in common? They have windows or window components from Fenestration Architectural Products, LLC.

Fenestration, based in East Providence, RI, was established in 1991 by Abdel M. Elsawabi, and began as a manufacturer of aluminum windows for commercial projects.  

Abdel’s quest for entrepreneurism started in the early nineties, during the height of an economic recession and Rhode Island’s banking crisis. His employer at the time was one of those victims. Abdel Elsawabi had moved from California to Rhode Island for employment. He was an architect by trade, with a degree from Cairo University in Egypt, and started work in operations with a company that manufactured aluminum windows. This experience provided the foundation for Abdel’s venture. When the company that employed him went out of business, as a result of the banking crisis, Abdel decided to start his own small aluminum window manufacturing company.

Abdel’s venture started with the development of a business plan and the assistance of an investor to provide him with the necessary capital. He also received free services from the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center (RISBDC) at Bryant University, a program sponsored in part by the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The RISBDC provided Abdel with a consultant to assist him with the development of his business plan. He also took advantage of a number of educational training programs offered by the RISBDC.  

Fenestration’s first contract was with the U. S. Navy in Groton, CT. As the business grew its focus changed from manufacturing to installation. In 1999, two partners, with many years of combined experience in the glass industry, joined Fenestration. The company changed its name to Fenestration Architectural Products, LLC to accommodate the shift in its core business and also focused on informing potential customers of the company’s experience and knowledge of working with a variety of building materials, other than glass.

Expansion also brought about the need for the company to find alternate means to finance new projects. Early on the company obtained financing from the Minority Investment Development Corporation, a SBA lender. 

Continued growth brought about the need for additional capital to finance new projects.
Financing was obtained in 2000 through Bank Rhode Island with a line of credit guaranteed by SBA. Today, Fenestration employs 35 people, and in 2001 posted sales that exceeded $5.0 million. Abdel attributes the success of Fenestration to its talented employees and the company’s commitment to providing its customers with excellent service.

Abdel considers Fenestration to be a relatively young company that must continue to thrive and grow by winning contracts and maintaining a reputation for quality work. When asked what he liked most about operating his own small business he said, “It’s a challenge every day and at the end of each day you feel you have accomplished something.”

Lizzy & The Enchanted Creamery - Cumberland

Take a charming mix of old fashioned and new toys, add rows and rows filled with classic children’s books, and toss in the recipes for 300 ice cream flavors and what do you have? Lizzy & The Enchanted Creamery.   Located at 1700 Mendon Road, off Route 295 in Cumberland, the store features an atmosphere where kids can have fun and parents can relax. 

Tracy Fay and Kerri Stenovitch, decided to combine Kerri’s ice cream experience with Tracy’s longtime desire to own a children’s book store. The pair, who are cousins, divided the store in half with toys and books on one side, and the ice cream parlor on the other.  Stenovich ran the famed Big Alice’s ice cream parlor on the East Side of Providence, She now makes all of the ice cream at Lizzy & The Enchanted Creamery herself, and has permission to use Big Alice’s original recipes. Fay and Stenovitch had discussed their unique concept for many months before finally sitting down to develop a business plan. They visited the Center for Women & Enterprise, where they finalized their business plan and CWE helped put together a loan package through the SBA Women’s Pre-qualification Loan Program. In October 2002, Coastway Credit Union approved an SBA-backed loan and Lizzy & The Enchanted Creamery opened its doors.

Stenovitch says word spread quickly about their store and business grew steadily. 

The store also hosts Play Days, when children participate in arts and crafts activities for a nominal fee. Puppeteers and other live entertainment are presented on a regular basis. While the kids are having fun, moms and dads can relax too with a cup of coffee, a cup of ice cream, or a soft drink. 

Lizzy & The Enchanted Creamery is the perfect place for a children’s birthday party, ice cream party, or even a craft party. But gown-ups are not out of luck either. Lizzy & The Enchanted Creamery also offers make-your-own sundae office parties. 

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