Franklin’s Main Street sees string of new businesses, others looking for space
By Mindy Tate, Editor
mtate@williamsonherald.com
Several storefronts on Franklin’s Main Street are undergoing transformation, bringing new business to the downtown area and changes to some existing ones.
Curious Gourmet Kitchen Center owners Steve and Debbie Griffin have sold their Cupcake Café to Naticakes LLC, the brainchild of Nicole C. Sloane of Lexington, Ky.
The store name pays homage to her late 23-month-old niece, Natalie, and Sloane’s desire to “create an avenue to generate $1 million for Natalie's foundation,” which is dedicated to “improving the lives of children throughout the world.” (www.nataliewynn.com). Within a week, Sloane’s husband Michael paired this passion with the emerging "cupcake trend," and the vision for "Naticakes" (her niece’s nickname) was born.
Sloane is a businesswoman, having a top Arbonne skincare consulting business and has a blog, www.situatedgiblets.blogspot.com.
“For the past year, I have been working with a brand design firm and bakers in preparation for this dream to become a reality. And, just as I was about to let the vision go, Michael and I found an amazing opportunity, presented on a ‘silver, cupcake platter!’” she said of the purchase of the Cupcake Café in the 300 block of Main Street.
She is rebranding it to “Naticakes,” to both directly and indirectly fund the foundation, she said on her blog.
Debbie Griffin said the sale of the cupcakery allows the couple more time to concentrate on Curious Gourmet Kitchen Center, plus time to add the demonstration kitchen and various classes.
The demonstration kitchen featuring the Aga Cooker, which is a stored-heat stove and cooker invented in 1929 by the Nobel Prize-winning Swedish physicist Dr. Gustaf Dalén (1869 - 1937), who was employed first as the chief engineer of AGA company. The kitchen also has a Diva Induction cooktop, which features five cooking zones on the induction cooktop,
including one large 4,000-watt center burner and two, 3,000-watt side burners. In addition the oven boasts a 3,500-watt bake and broil element, 2,000-watt convection element and the fastest self-clean in the industry.
Demonstration classes at Curious Gourmet are $49.99 per person, Debbie Griffin said, and reservations are needed and may be made by calling 656-4898.
Among the topics are “Just Peachy,” set for Thursday, Aug. 20; “Asian Appetizer Party,” Thursday, Aug. 27; and “Summer Entertaining, Thursday, Sept. 3.
All classes are 6-8 p.m. at the store in the 300 block of Main Street.
There is a lot happening in the 300 block with the opening soon of Hey Day Franklin, described as a gift celebration in downtown Franklin.
Just weeks after tying the knot, newlyweds Stacey and Brian Freeman will be opening HeyDay, an upscale gift shop, at 334 Main St. in Franklin, according to Stacey Grunwald, marketing director.
HeyDay will showcase some of the best lines in the gift industry along with many cutting-edge items that will be available in the Nashville area for the first time, she said, adding that the couple visited Franklin a couple of years ago and really liked it. They currently own one of the hottest gift stores in Atlanta, and will be bringing their gift expertise and passion for customer service to Franklin.
“The store will offer something for every gift-giving event – baby, graduation, wedding, thank you, birthday, holiday and more,” Grunwald said, adding lines include The Good Earth pottery; Jane Marvel handbags, luggage and accessories; Waxing Poetic sterling silver and gold jewelry in letters, symbols and stones; The Thymes bath and body luxuries; Paddywax and Seda France candles; Jellycat plush animals and Sleep Sheep for baby; and Lentil Beans bunny prints by southern artist Carla Marshall.
Work is under way on the 400 block of Main Street on the former Stitcher’s Garden, transforming it into the Shoppes on Main, which will feature more than 20 merchants, upscale gifts, accessories, and furniture, and on the other side of the atrium, the conversion of the former Hunan Chinese Restaurant into new offices for Bob Parks Realty, which is relocating from its current location on the corner of East Main and Second Avenue. Cadence Bank is renovating that building for a new banking center.
Just beyond Five Points on Main Street, Personally Yours has been open for a few months, with brightly colored and personalized merchandise for every occasion and banners are hanging in the former Listening Room Café for Sweet CeCe’s frozen yogurt.
This shop currently has a location in Belle Meade’s Hill Center and serves “healthier frozen yogurt with sweet toppings.”
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