Downing Hill, a new retail store, has opened in the former Ole Moon space on Greenville. You may recall The Ole Moon closed in April after 30 years in business selling crafts, art supplies, cards and gifts. The new shop carries outdoor furniture and accessories featuring themed landscaped designs. “We are working with a local landscape designer to provide this additional service so we are not just ‘another garden shop’,” owner Tom Henderson says. Henderson will be bringing in special guests for weekend presentations and demonstrations on everything from landscape design to plant selection. You can catch Plano-based landscape designer David Castagno of the Landscape Studio (landscapestudio.com) on Saturday, Feb. 27 to discuss anything from your plant woes to your landscaping wish list. Call the shop at 214.887.1837 to sign up for a free 30-minute consultation. Visit downinghill.com for information on other scheduled events.
The Bump and Beyond, a baby planning and concierge service, was recently started by Lake Highlands and East Dallas residents Aryn Self and Angela Huston. Designed to guide their clients through the entire process of planning for a baby, services range from organizing the nursery, ordering baby announcements, and medical and baby assistance referrals to planning babymoons and baby showers. Self and Huston, lawyers by trade, were working for the same law firm when they discovered they were both pregnant with due dates only three weeks apart. After learning first-hand about all that goes into baby-planning and prep, the first-time moms saw an opportunity in the Dallas area with this burgeoning business model that’s becoming popular in some other large markets, and launched the new biz just a few months ago. Visit thebumpandbeyond.com to get more information and check out a list of services (all of which can be ordered a la carte if that’s your preference) or call 214.662.8656 to set up a complimentary consultation.
Jackie and Bill Marra opened On Wheels Computer Repair a year and a half ago in the old Hollywood Video Store on Northwest Highway and Plano Road. Bill Marra has been in the computer-fixin’ biz for himself for the past 18 years. The couple have been Casa Linda residents for the past 10+ years and opted to open a store-front in the area to accommodate their expanding client base. Customers can bring their computers to the shop, or the Marra’s offer a convenient in-home repair service if the thought of unplugging all those computer cords is enough to give you an anxiety attack. Jackie Marra explained that one of their most requested services is their virus scan and clean, which is priced at $95. Advocate readers can visit owcronline.com and click on “specials” to get a coupon for $15 off the popular service.
Red Cat Consignment, located in the shopping center behind Green Spot at North Buckner and Northcliff, has closed its doors after only a few months in business. And on the other side of town, Niru The Boutique, which had just recently expanded into a second location, closed unexpectedly after seven years at their Greenville location.
Dr. Dena Robinson, owner of Robinson Dentistry (drdenarobinson.com), has had her dental practice in the Lakewood area since 2004. Originally located in Casa Linda Plaza, Robinson moved into some new digs just down the street on 8940 Garland Road in 2007. Robinson lived in the Lakewood area during dental school and residency from 1995-2000. After a quick stint in Chicago, she was excited to get back down to East Dallas to start her practice. “We wanted to live in Dallas, but we didn’t really want it to feel like Dallas,” says Robinson. She explains, “the Lakewood/East Dallas area was a no-brainer-type decision for us. We used to live on Lakewood Boulevard and would walk to Starbucks, Cantina Laredo, Legal Grounds, etc. She continues, “I’m also in love with White Rock Lake. I’m a runner, and running around the lake, especially when the seasons change, is so therapeutic.” So, if you were putting off the dreaded dental checkup and cleaning because you wanted to get to know a dentist in the area, you’re out of excuses.
The Pearl Cup (thepearlcup.com), located at Henderson and McMillan, is celebrating their first anniversary this month. The coffee shop has quickly turned into a local fave among latte and pastry connoisseurs in the East Dallas area. Co-owners Rita Davis and Carlene Saelg moved to Dallas from Austin in 2007. After a year of meeting new people and “learning to drive in Dallas without getting lost,” they realized they weren’t happy with their corporate jobs. Being the coffee enthusiasts they are, they started pulling together their plans to open a coffee shop that would “do things very differently from the chain coffee shops.” Davis reports, “since opening on Valentine’s Day this year, each month has been busier than the last, and our customer base is wonderful!” The pair currently has their house on the market and is busy shopping for a home in the East Dallas area to be closer to their shop. “We just love the area. It has such character, and great energy—it’s so laid back and Austin-like,” says Davis. Stop in for a spell to get a quick shot of caffeine, or you’re welcome to cop a squat, pull out your iPhone, iPod and Mac, and stay for a while.
JBF (Justin Bowen Fitness), a personal fitness training facility, opened at 9010 Garland Road near the Suffer City tattoo shop. The 2,300-square-foot facility is owned and run by neighborhood resident Justin Bowden, who once worked as a personal trainer at the Casa Linda 24 Hour Fitness. Bowden plans to help his clients develop personal curriculums through one-on-one sessions and boot camps based on their goals — weight loss, muscle building, improved performance in sports such as running, cycling, football, etc.
“I’ve been doing this for 10 years and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve seen the inconvenience and poor service that people sometimes endure with personal training at a gym. I also have seen people who work out on their own who could be using time much more efficiently.” Memberships will run anywhere from $75-$200 per month. Bowden says he’s happy to let you try out a free session. Call 214.321.9300 or visit justinbowdenfitness.com for information on memberships and classes or to schedule a free introductory session.
