LAKE COUNTY – Businesses are booming as redevelopment funds help restore historic buildings in the downtown areas of Kelseyville, Lakeport, Upper Lake, and areas on the North Shore. And the county is fast becoming known as the next wine region, a mere five years ago, there were only four wineries, today there are 20 wineries, with several others in the works. Local business owners applaud the emerging grape growing business in the county, because it means more foot and car traffic that can support the local economy. To attest to that fact, you have only to look at the recent growth in towns around the lake in the past five years. Kelseyville and Upper Lake have each seen nearly 10 new businesses in the past year alone, previously unheard of for the slow-growing country towns.
New businesses in downtown Kelseyville include a bakery, new pharmacy building with several new businesses, a music store, tasting room, wine bar, day spa, salon, florist, a new physician”s office offering plastic surgery and skin care, and a fitness center.
According to Mary Moore, co-owner of Kelseyville Electric and president of Kelseyville Business Association, the growing businesses are what bring vitality and life to the town. “It”s been musical chairs with businesses moving and trading owners. Studebaker”s is now owned by Itzia Rico and her husband, EJ”s Video is now called Pearadise Video and owned by Maggie Stravis, and the Bakery has new owners and is really doing wonderful things, their bread is often sold out early, but you can find it at local grocers like Bruno”s in Lakeport,” said Moore.
While it is common for new businesses to spring up but then close doors shortly thereafter, this has not been the case for the majority of businesses in recent years. “The town is definitely growing and members of the community support them, which help them stay open,” said Moore.
John Lindstrom of Rob Roy Golf Club facility recently stopped by Focused on Wine to taste wine with his wife. The wine bar is one of the newest businesses downtown that replaced retail store The Golden Pair. They drove down from Cobb for the occasion, and ran into another family, also from Cobb-all had nothing but praise for the new business.
Lindstrom said Focused on Wine compliments Lake County”s growing wine industry by showcasing local wines as well as offering a national and world-wide selection for comparison. Lindstrom says owner Stephanie Green is a “really approachable and knowledgeable sommelier,” in a non-intimidating atmosphere where the average person can walk in without prior wine tasting experience and feel right at home. Lindstrom said his approval was not to be taken likely, as it takes a lot for a local business to impress him. “If we didn”t love it and have an absolutely great time we wouldn”t rave about it. And we wouldn”t give gift certificates to here to our own customers as prizes when we have events at the golf course,” said Lindstrom.
Another local business, Pearadise Video, is doing well despite challenges. According to owner Maggie Stravis, “A large percent of people didn”t used to have TV service or cable in past years. But it”s way more affordable now and that and Blockbuster have really cut into business. Plus the weather, look outside! Who wants to be inside? Only when it gets up to the upper 90”s or 100 do people go back inside and want to rent movies again.”
Stravis said, “But I get a lot of support and I love this town.”
A customer and friend outside of Pearadise Video agreed. “People around here are really faithful,” Dee Pine, a longtime Kelseyville resident, chimed in. “They try to shop locally.”
“Yes that”s true,” said Stravis. “You know in this town people are just wonderful, I love doing stuff for the schools and donating stuff-I”ve watched a lot of the kids grow up. They come on over and just hang out. There is zip to do around here for them,” said Maggie Stivers.
Kelseyville residents are ubiquitous about one thing: that there is not much to do in town for teens and college-age kids. Local new business owner Paolo Buttitta of Ear Mite, a music store located next door to his family”s wine tasting business, Rosa D”Oro echoed Stivers” sentiments.
“It”s true there”s not much to do around here. It makes kids not want to stick around. I actually like the small town feel, and it”s nice to come back here for a while after living in Sonoma County. People like us who are in our early 20s need a place to hang out.” Buttitta says his next business venture is a coffee shop around the corner of Rosa D”Oro where his band, Wideyed, a heavy metal threesome, can practice and young people can hang out.
Not exactly a heavy metal scene, an additional new business: a faith-based youth center is the brainchild of Trinity Designs owners Tamara and Todd Drawdy, and will be located in the new red Kelseyville Pharmacy building by the bridge entrance to Kelseyville, along with a drive-thru pharmacy, for those that cannot easily get in and out of their vehicles. The center will be located in a non-profit internet caf? and coffee house, with all of the profits going to the Youth Foundation at Gard Street Elementary School, which the Drawdy”s and the community hope to start by offering fellowships, free life-skills classes, sports programs, and tutoring.
“It”s just going to be so wonderful. It will be faith-based but anyone is welcome and it will give kids a place to go and something to do in town,” said Tamara Drawdy beaming while she stood outside of her first business venture, flower and landscape design store Trinity Designs.
