2 new shops open downtown
All kinds of art is brightening up downtown Marietta, whether it be by satisfying sweet tooths with scrumptious decorated cupcakes and cookies or by tattoos and galleries galore. Businesses are continuing to sprout up, giving community members even more options when exploring Marietta.
One particular business isn’t necessarily new, but is extending into Putnam Commons to provide cupcakes and cookies to the many that shop in downtown. The Village Cakery is proud to announce their kiosk debut in downtown Marietta.
“We have lots of customers from Marietta and a lot of them have been requesting for us to open a shop in Marietta,” explained Co-Owner of the Village Cakery Cindy Mallahan. “And this was kind of the easiest way to do it and not open a brick and mortar building.”
Even though they just opened their first storefront in Barlow in January, they have continued to grow and have expanded their locations to the Point Park Marketplace in Parkersburg in August and again with their Marietta location in September.
“Business has probably tripled since we opened the shops, which is good,” said Mallahan. “It’s kind of crazy, but I have a great staff that helps a lot.”
Mallahan said that they are only providing iced sugar cookies and their notorious cupcakes at the kiosk in Putnam Commons and people have been reacting well to the new stand.
“They actually kind of go crazy over our cupcakes and they love our butter cream icing; it’s our signature,” she said. “People refer to them as Cindy Cakes, which is always kind of funny — my husband (Allen Mallahan) has helped me in the business from the beginning, but he really gets no credit.”
Ashley Rittenhouse, 30, of Little Hocking, said she was excited to have the new kiosk in Marietta where she works.
“We order cakes and cupcakes from her for all occasions,” explained Rittenhouse. “I will definitely make time to get down there; I love to see any small business grow and be successful.”
She said she knows Mallahan personally and is happy that her business is continuing to grow.
“I’m so happy for her that she has grown to be this successful and that she is opening up all of these locations,” said Rittenhouse. “That’s a great addition to that little complex to have her in there; hopefully folks will go down there on their lunch break and have a pastry with their lunch.”
At their storefront in Barlow the Village Cakery offers wedding cakes, decorative cakes, cupcakes, cookies, dog biscuits and pepperoni rolls. Interested customers can contact the store at 740-678-2586 or email the shop at villagecakery@yahoo.com.
“We still do lots and lots of weddings and are just now wrapping up wedding season,” explained Mallahan. “Once weddings are over with, we will be doing lots of holiday cookies and cupcakes that will be available at all three locations.”
Tattoo and paint shop
A couple of blocks away is a brand new storefront tattoo and paint shop that isn’t the traditional tattoo parlor, but is more like a spa, according to owner Cory Wilson.
“It’s inviting,” he said. “It has a couch, chairs, television — that kind of deal.”
The Painted Sparrow, 172 Front St., is open on Tuesdays through Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m. Sundays are by appointment only.
Wilson said he hasn’t had a large amount of business so far because the site just opened on Oct. 1, but he hopes that once people start to know he’s there they will start coming.
“We’ve done a little bit of fliers and we’ve done some appointments and whatnot with people we had booked before we even had the shop opened,” he said, noting that they have public events that he believes will draw more customers in. “We’re doing public paint nights two or three times a month; we had one two weeks ago that was pretty successful.”
Wilson said The Painted Sparrow has some events coming up, including a fall abstract paint night on Nov. 10 for $35 and a Superhero Sunday Paint Party for children for $20. He said people who are interested could call the shop at 740-371-5135 or email him at paintedsparrow16@gmail.com.
“I’ve always been into tattoos, always been into paintings; I’ve done wall murals for people forever,” said Wilson. “The tattoo industry has come a long way; it’s a lot more mainstream now than it was 15, 20 years ago, so we tried to open up a shop that catered towards that.”
Wilson feels that his shop will greatly benefit the downtown community, noting that not only will he be able to generate business for himself, but others as well.
“I mean, we are in between and across the street from three restaurants,” said Wilson. “For anybody that is in (the shop), when they have to wait for one thing or another, we send them to Marietta Brewing Company, Tanya’s Kitchen, or other stores downtown.”
He added that he is excited to be able to have a storefront of his own, but said that it can also be frustrating.
“It’s very liberating, but also very frustrating because I’m still doing my full time job at Rent-A-Center,” he explained. “It’s always been a ‘here, you own the place, but it’s still ours;’ this one is mine.”
Wilson charges a $40 minimum for tattoos and approximately $50 an hour for larger tattoos; painting prices vary.
At a glance
Village Cakery Kiosk
¯Where: Putnam Commons.
¯When: Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
¯Who: Cindy and Allen Mallahan.
¯Cost: $1.50 to $2 for cookies and $2 for cupcakes.
Source: Cindy Mallahan.
The Painted Sparrow
¯ Where: 172 Front St., Marietta.
¯ When: Tuesdays through Thursdays from noon to 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m.; Sundays by appointment.
¯Who: Cory Wilson.
¯ Cost: $40 minimum for tattoos and approximately $50 an hour for larger tattoos; painting prices vary.
Source: Cory Wilson.