About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 17, 2023)
CM K Weekend Edition-March 17-18,2023 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Lire Chestatee student launches Gainesville Bazaar to showcase small businesses Photo submitted to The Times Founded by 18-year-old Lilly-Ana Davila, Gainesville Bazaar is a pop-up market for small businesses. Since launching in June 2021, the bazaar has hosted several events with 40-70 vendors from the local business community and beyond. BY RACHEL ESTES restes@gainesvilletimes.com School may still be in ses sion for Lilly-Ana Davila, but it may be safe to say she’s aced the concept of work-life balance. A junior at Chestatee High School and a participant in its Renaissance Academy Creative Enterprises pro gram, the 18-year-old keeps her nose flush against the grindstone of schoolwork, part-time employment and entrepreneurship. In addi tion to a balloon arrange ment business, which she started at 15, Davila is the founder of Gainesville Bazaar, a pop-up shopping event composed of local vendors running the gamut from food, clothing and jew elry to gaming, body sculpt ing and spa products. Besides her own, many of Davila’s family ties are tangled in the small busi ness world, a realm she’s found poses its own limita tions, particularly in gain ing exposure beyond social media followers and close personal connections. “They would put so much work into the items they create (and) the services they offer, but they had such little clientele because it wasn’t networked around the Gainesville area,” Davila said. “We support each other (as fellow busi ness owners), but Gaines ville itself — we haven’t caught their attention yet.” While contemplating the idea of a bazaar, Davila found another source of inspiration in her aunt and grandmother, who run an online boutique. “Seeing them start from nothing (to) build up their business got me motivated Gainesville Bazaar Spring Fling When: Noon to 5 p.m. March 25 Where: Triufantes de Jesucristo Church, 794 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville More info: instagram. com/gainesville_bazaar to go out there,” she said. “Basically every small busi ness is so limited to social media, and I needed a way to let people try on things in person and see my arrange ments in person.” Gainesville Bazaar launched in 2021 as a back yard event with 10 vendors and about 100 guests, with most of the vendors selling out of their wares partway through. “I was like, ‘Wow, this could really go some where,”’ Davila said. “At first it was just a little idea, a little dream that I had. Growing up, I always wanted to be an entrepre neur but never knew what my passion was (or) where I was supposed to really start.” From those “very small and simple beginnings,” the bazaar has tripled in size, now attracting vendors from as far as North Carolina and Alabama. Last December, Davila organized a Christmas bazaar with more than 70 vendors, and aims to host four to six pop-up events per year. Gainesville Bazaar’s next pop-up, a “spring fling,” is slated for noon to 5 p.m. Sat urday, March 25 at Triufan tes de Jesucristo Church in Gainesville. Every Gainesville Bazaar event is open to the public, with few restrictions on the type and age of participat ing small businesses, staging opportunities for entrepre neurs to not only boost and broaden their clientele, but network with and poten tially mentor one another. “A brick-and-mortar store in Gainesville doesn’t mean people in Flowery Branch know you,” Davila said. “If you’re a small business, if you have some thing that you’ve worked on — your passion — then we’re going to work with you, we’re going to take you in, we’re going to help you grow. We’re going to take your ideas and we’re going to network together. Even if they have a (brick-and- mortar) store or they’ve been around for five years, there’s always ways that even the small businesses that are barely starting can learn from them.” For vendors, space is given on a first-come, first- served basis. Each bazaar accommodates roughly 40 to 70 vendors, depending on the size of the host location, according to Davila. Vendors interested in participating in upcoming events can contact Davila via email at gainesvilleba- zaar@gmail.com. For newcomers to the small business world, Davila is launching a “newbie program” tailored to help emerging entrepreneurs gain their footing. “The business world can be so intimidating. We’re here for encouragement, we’re here for support and to help them grow,” Davila said. “If you have an idea to start a business, this is the place for you. If you have a business and it’s not been the best this year or you just don’t know where else to take it, this is for you. If you need help creating a logo, building an Instagram and email, this is the perfect place to get that advice and extra boost.” With the exception of an assistant for set-up on event days, Davila runs Gainesville Bazaar single- handedly, fielding emails, creating content for social media, coordinating with vendors and organizing events. Her school day finishes around 4:30 p.m., and from there she clocks in at her part-time job until about 8 or 9. It’s a hefty load to man age, but Davila isn’t sure she’d call it work. “I just have to multitask,” she said. “Whenever you’re doing something you love, it’s not really work. Some times it gets tiring, but it’s literally the thing I look for ward to every day — being able to interact with people, manage my business while still going to school and learning from other peo ple. What I’m doing feels right to me, so I’m going to continue.” Ask Davila what keeps her going and she won’t beat around the bush with her answer: “It’s worth it — the late nights of no sleep, work ing and then going straight to the event, it’s all paying off at the end of the day because I know I’m doing something good for my community.” Davila knows she still has more to learn but feels she’s always “been ahead of the game.” As a minority in the business world, and the oldest of four siblings, she hopes her ambition shows her siblings that they can accomplish whatever they put their minds to. “As a Latina woman, peo ple (were) like, ‘She’s only 15, what is she even doing? She hasn’t even finished high school. She doesn’t know anything about life.’ But in reality, you don’t have to have all of those things (checked off) to be able to start something,” Davila said. “Once you find your passion, there’s noth ing that can stop you. ” For announcements and updates on pop-ups and networking events, follow @gainesville_bazaar on Instagram. With questions, contact gainesvillebazaar@gmail. com. Freedom Beer Fest set to celebrate beer, support for local veterans SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Sponsored by Tap It Growlers, the event will take place on the grounds of the American Legion Post 7, one of the oldest posts in the country. SCOTT ROGERS I The Times A magnolia bloom dries at ceramics artist John Kim’s Hall County studio. Kim also creates traditional Korean buncheong wares and moon jars with a modem twist. BY DONNELL SUGGS dsuggs@galnesvllletimes.com Get ready to grab a beer and give back. The Free dom Beer Fest will be at a special place and for a spe cial cause. Sponsored by Tap It Growlers, the event will take place on the grounds of the American Legion Post 7, one of the oldest posts in the country. “We hope everyone in town gets over there to participate in giving back to the American Legion while enjoying some beer. It’s going to be a fun place to congregate,” said Tap It owner Jim Tortorelli. Slated for 2-10 p.m. Sat urday, March 25, the Free dom Beer Fest will have a $3 admission fee with all proceeds going to the Amer ican Legion. The partnership is intended to drum up inter est and inform people about what the nation’s largest wartime veteran service organization actually does. “One of the ideas is to have people come out and see the Legion and enjoy our open space,” American Legion Post 7 Commander Andre Castleberry said of a reason why the fest was taking place on the grounds. “We are excited to be working with the American Legion and to be helping them with a membership drive,” Tortorelli said. “We thought it would be great to have the Freedom Brew Fest at Post 7, while having it coincide with a recruiting effort.” Veterans can join their local American Legion post if they have served at least a day of military service and have received an hon orable discharge, accord- Freedom Beer Fest When: 2-10 p.m. March 25 Where: American Legion Post 7,2343 Riverside Drive, Gainesville How much: $3 for admission More info: gainesvilleamericanlegion. org ing to the American Legion website. Despite the many beer samples that will be avail able, there’s more to this year’s fest than just beer. Four or five food trucks will be on site, according to Tor torelli, as well as live music from local bands and solo acts including Audio Pile, Southern Stone, Steve Sand ers and David Swinson. For parking, a parking lot at nearby Riverside Prepa ratory Academy has been donated for the occasion. For more information, visit gainesvilleamericanle- gion.org or instagram.com/ tapitgrowlers. KIM ■ Continued from 3C “It’s a physical thing — you’re actually pushing against clay and there’s these kinds of forces at play in terms of gravity and water. Push the limits of the clay to doing things that maybe are different from your origi nal intent and letting those accidents happen,” he said. “I like to explore a lot of dif ferent things and educate myself continually and grow. That’s kind of my thing: Make sure that you don’t stay stagnant.” To connect with Kim and his work, visit kcharmdesign. com or follow @k charm design on Instagram. KITCHEN INSPECTIONS Times staff reports The following are among the food service establish ments inspected by the Hall County Environmental Health Department. Food service establishments are given a letter grade that coincides with a percentile: “A” (90-100), “B” (80-89), “C” (70-79), “U” (69 and below). Inspections (and their frequency) of a food ser vice establishment are conducted based on risk categorization. The risk type is determined by the menu items served, the food preparation pro cesses performed and the previous food safety his tory in the food service establishment. A new food service estab lishment that has never served food must score 100 (A) to receive a food service permit to operate. When a restaurant changes ownership, a new food ser vice permit must be issued. To be issued a permit for a change of ownership, the establishment must score a 95 (A) or above with all foodborne illness risk fac tors and public health inter ventions in compliance. Permits must be posted in public view at all times. Establishments with drive-thru windows will also be required to have the top one-third of a copy of the most current inspec tion report visible through each window allowing customers to easily read the score, date of inspec tion and establishment information, in addition to the copy posted inside the establishment. Copies of the rules are available at the Hall County Environ mental Health Office. The rules and regula tions are also available online at dph.georgia.gov/ environmental-health- inspections. To register a complaint against a food service establishment, contact the Hall County Environmen tal Health Department at 770-531-3973. MARCH 15 Biba’s Italian Restaurant Location: 7338 Spout Springs Road, Suite 18-19, Flowery Branch Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Mundy Mill Academy Location: 4260 Millside Parkway, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh MARCH 14 Subway #18114 Location: 2235 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville Score: 97, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Arby’s #8097 Location: 1934 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Cafe Cancun Bar & Grill Location: 5200 Thompson Bridge Road, Murrayville Score: 86, Grade: B Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Golden Corral Buffet & Grill Location: 1450 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 90, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh MARCH 13 Church’s Fried Chicken Location: 600 E.E. Butler Parkway, Gainesville Score: 95, Grade: A Inspector: Kierstan Green McDonalds Location: 7370 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch Score: 98, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Johnny’s Pizza #105 Location: 7363 Spout Springs Road, Suite 204, Flowery Branch Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Wendy’s Restaurant #160 Location: 7348 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush MARCH 10 The Hickory Pig Location: 3605 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 92, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu The Biscuit Shoppe Location: 1704 Cleveland Highway, Gainesville Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu Cherokee Bluff High School Location: 6603 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Little Caesars #3393-031 Location: 229 E.E. Butler Parkway, Suite 400, Gainesville Score: 94, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Little Caesars #3393-029 Location: 2888 Browns Bridge Road, Suite A, Gainesville Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush SushiHeeya Location: 7380 Spout Springs Road, Suite 430, Gainesville Score: 87, Grade: B Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Taqueria El Antojito Location: 3602 Southland Drive, Flowery Branch Score: 95, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu MARCH 9 Gainesville RYDC Location: 450 Crescent Drive, Gainesville Score: 91, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Wendy’s #30 Location: 3825 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood Score: 94, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu Starbucks Coffee Shop #27260 Location: 1429 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 97, Grade: A Inspector: Kierstan Green Starbucks #437 Location: 3630 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Kierstan Green
