Business Bits & Bytes

The BIG EVENT this month was “The Taste of Lakewood” presented by the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, Lakewood Hospital and 13 other local sponsors. (Photos in this issue!) Tickets were sold out again this year as 22 restaurants shared delicious tastes of their best recipes. 2010 Event Newcomers are Root Café (not just a coffee shop -try vegan or other healthy “goodies”), Beck Café (homemade soups, good food and a patio at the Beck Center), Greek Village Grille (great gyros), The Gathering Kitchen (group cooking classes and more), and Cozumel (Mexican cuisine opening soon on Detroit and Ethel)... Another ‘newer’ business, Eclectic Mixx, is recognizing its first year as a fun ‘mixx’ of antiques, collectibles, plus funky and traditional décor accessories. Owner, Bill Brenner, expanded his store with a move to central Lakewood and plans to open a second shop in Avon… BGE Technology just celebrated 40 years in the business of caring and customer service. They meet your technology needs with reasonable prices and a commitment to customer service that the ‘big box’ stores simply can’t compete with!… Owner of It’s a Party, Barbara Pennington, retired from a long career in health care, thinking that life without working sounded good, until she tried it! Then she looked into opening her own party center business and said it took “a lot of faith” (she invested her retirement savings in it!). After 35 years of living in and loving Lakewood, her positivity and work ethic have led to celebrating her new business’s 2 year anniversary!... We have a smorgasbord of interesting people and unique businesses in Lakewood; so why not think globally, shop locally and take your own taste of Lakewood by enjoying the many flavors in your neighborhood?