In the past several weeks, two longtime family businesses have announced their intention to close their doors for good. Let’s hope this isn’t a sign of things to come, but neither of these businesses closed due to the recession.
A few weeks ago, Alvin Payton Sr. decided to retire and close his family business after 50 years. Valdosta Floor Covering had been serving customers for many years and employed many individuals in the city, including his wife, Claudia, and his sons, on occasion. His children have careers of their own, and Alvin Sr. said it’s time to fish and spend time with grandchildren.
Romine’s Furniture in Quitman is also quitting business, as of this week, after 95 years and at least three generations of family. They’ve survived wars, recessions, and more in their time, and they’re quitting to enjoy their retirement, not because the economy is forcing them to.
Every business should be so lucky to have such long and successful runs. These individuals deserve praise for their service to their communities over the years, for providing employment for others, and for being productive citizens.
These businesses may be gone, but the values these families have instilled in succeeding generations will stay forever. Most small businesses don’t survive for longer than a few years, so the Paytons and the Romines apparently learned the age old saying — treat others as you want to be treated and the business will take care of itself. Perhaps that’s the lesson today’s entrepreneurs could benefit from.
Entrepreneurs in Action
On Saturday, Entrepreneurs in Action will take place at Val Tech from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to the public, the event will feature speakers discussing various topics for entrepreneurs, and the winners of the Chamber’s annual Guardian Bank Business Plan Competition will be announced at 2 p.m.
If you’re interested in attending, call the Chamber at (229) 247-8100.
Business Roundup
The former home of Southern Stationery on North Patterson Street is being renovated into office spaces. Located across from Covington’s, there may also be a coffee shop or something similar in the building once renovations are complete, but I understand nothing is completely decided yet. I’ll keep you updated.
Southern Stationery had been in the location for many years and moved to Lee Street, behind the Department of Labor building.
Also downtown, Glo has reopened. It’s a night club on North Patterson Street where those who are deemed admissible can dance the night away, eating sushi and enjoying dance music.
I’ve been told that Magpies, the Christian cyber cafe next to Publix, may be reopening at some point soon.
When I asked a couple of weeks ago about the property that had a sold sign on it located on North Patterson Street down from Wilson Eye Center, I heard from several people, so thank you. It turns out that the building was purchased by Taylor Insurance Co., possibly for a new office.
Speaking of Wilson, it looks like their addition is almost, finished from the outside at least, but the heavy rains may have set them back a bit.
I keep hearing interesting stories about the possible new owners of what was Mulldoons a few years back. I’ll keep you posted.
I also understand that a new restaurant may be coming to town. I was told, from a reliable source of course, that Buffalo Wild Wings may be going in on a mall outparcel.
We wrote a while back about the Fellowship Home and the renovations they were working on. The assisted living expansion is now complete and residents have already moved into the new Willow Wood living area, built by SC Barker Construction.
The Salon on Baytree has moved and is now the Salon off Baytree. It’s located on Cherokee off Jerry Jones.
There is a sign in a store window downtown saying that Kaleidoscope is coming soon, but it doesn’t give a hint what Kaleidoscope may be. It’s next to the Flower Gallery on North Ashley Street.
I’ll finish out this week with the hope that all who were affected by the flood waters are safe and that their homes and businesses survive.
If this isn’t the worst it’s ever been, I’d like to know from someone when it was.
That’s it for this week, but if there’s something I missed, please let me know!
Business
Related Photos
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Glo Ultra Lounge in downtown Valdosta.
Business This Week: Family Businesses
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Valdosta Shared Office Space
VALDOSTA — Though Valdosta Shared Office Space is not new to Valdosta, it is newly green. The first and only shared office space in Valdosta owned by Gino Fina, just became the first Downtown Valdosta business to work with the Georgia Cities Foundation’s Green Communities Fund to implement environmentally friendly, energy-efficient improvements, reducing energy consumption upwards of 50 percent. -
Downtown businesses to be mobbed this week
A few years ago, when everyone started talking through social media, flash mobs became the new in thing to do. Primarily in the big cities, although VSU did their own a year or two ago, a designated place and time would be set and masses of people would descend on these sites, sometimes dancing, sometimes singing, sometimes acting obnoxiously.
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Keep tails wagging when your budget is lagging
I have a problem. Though I am a tight-wad when it comes to spending my money, I cannot resist the calling to buy adorable toys, collars and, yes, even clothes for my three cuter than all get out fur babies.
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The Valdosta Mall: Revamped and Ready for Business!
VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Mall has made tremendous strides since its rebranding away from Colonial Mall in 2007 and it’s refocus in 2008 when it made a move from serving the community to being a part of the community.
“We had taken for granted our place in the community for a long time,” said Jerry Weller, general manager of the Valdosta Mall. “We don’t do that anymore.” -
Keep your clothes looking fab to avoid looking drab
As I get older, I’m beginning to learn that there are more important things than clothes. Ugh! It pains me to even form that sentence; however, it’s true.
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Business This Week: Happy Mother’s Day!
Today is the one day a year dedicated to celebrating mothers, although we all use their guidance and wisdom every day. But for this one day, their sacrifices, kindness, love, and advice are recognized, hopefully, by the children they raised or helped to raise. It might not even be those born to them, as most mothers don’t limit their love and it flows over onto their children’s friends, family members, and the children they influence in the classroom, in Sunday school and in volunteer activities.
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Downtown will have a new beat this week
The Brown Bag Concert Series produced by Valdosta Main Street will begin again on Monday and last all week.
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Valdosta Regional Airport: Flying Valdosta to the Top
There are 104 publicly owned, public-use airports — nine commercial service and 95 general-aviation airports — in Georgia. Airports are significant to the state’s economic infrastructure and essential to transportation of goods and people. A single airport can support various diversified industries such as technology, manufacturing, distribution, agriculture and tourism.
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Brittany's Budget Diary: Be Green to Save Green
“It’s not easy being green,” once said Kermit the Frog. No offense to Kerm, but it is in fact quite easy being green. I know because I am incredibly green.
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Propex: Global Presence, Local Roots
VALDOSTA — Not every company sets out to build a better community, a better world and a better future. However, not every company is Propex.
Propex is known as a leader in building and rebuilding key infrastructure all over the world. Products made at Propex are used to protect hillsides, highways and waterways from damaging erosion by combining engineered fabrics with natural vegetation rather than broken rock. - More Business Headlines
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