News
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Organically Yours bakery is cooking up something sweet in East Lake
Filed Under: Birmingham Food & Drink, Business-Proving, Small Business
Antionette Neely started reading ingredient labels in the grocery store where she worked as a young woman. Right away, she realized most of the additives were unpronounceable and synthetic. That’s when she asked herself a question: What can I do to put out better products? Twenty years later, the lifelong baker cooked up a sweet answer to that question − homemade oatmeal cookies she baked for her kids. She switched out original ingredients for all wholesome options, and thus, Organically Yours was born. In 2009, she received her first two clients: a local Piggly Wiggly and Organic Harvest. After 6 months of working in her home, Neely thought about opening a brick and mortar bakery, but it wasn’t the time. Every time she got close to securing a space things fell through. That didn’t keep her from staying focused on her dream. “I knew from day one I was supposed to be in a brick and mortar,” Neely said. “One day, it’ll come.” Last year, REV helped that day come by working with Neely to identify a space in East Lake. For the first time, Organically Yours LLC had a brick and mortar space to call home. Although her new location isn’t projected to open until later this summer, Neely is already excited to bring healthy, natural foods to an area that can use an economic boost. “Over the years, I’ve seen it deteriorate a little. I figured that putting a bakery there would really help to revive the location,” she said. “I think that people are crying for something healthier – a bakery that is healthy.” Moving to a brick and mortar location is going to be a huge change for Neely – a positive one that is long overdue. Since she started Organically Yours, she has basically been a one-woman show, managing almost every aspect of her business. “Baking, packaging, delivering – I pretty much did all of that by myself since 2009 – up until now,” Neely said. “But when you know what you need to do, you just do it.” She wants her story to motivate others who are considering starting their own businesses. “In my case, it took 10 years. There is no overnight success,” Neely said. “When you’re called to do something, it doesn’t happen quickly. It’s going to take time to grow. It’s like planting a seed. My advice would be to stay with it, no matter what comes your way.” Check out Organically Yours on Facebook and Instagram!
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Food entrepreneurship leads economic development progress in Woodlawn
Filed Under: Birmingham Food & Drink, Business-Proving, Small Business, Woodlawn
The Birmingham community of Woodlawn has recently seen economic growth through the renovation of an existing but dilapidated building that now houses a restaurant, a bakery and a fresh produce distribution center. Located at 5829 1st Avenue North, the joint venture between Woodlawn Foundation and REV Birmingham has allowed two Woodlawn business owners to expand their footprint to accommodate a growing demand for their respective products.
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Young Pioneers organize coffee, doughnuts and discussion with Shipt, REV CEOs on July 19
Filed Under: Events, Small Business, Uncategorized, Young Pioneers
Come join Young Pioneers of Birmingham, in support of REV Birmingham, for coffee and doughnuts with Bill Smith of Shipt and David Fleming of REV on Thursday, July 19 at 7:30 a.m. at Shipt HQ!
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Meet the 2018 Rise of the Rest winners: Mixtroz
Filed Under: Business-Proving, Small Business
In 2014, Kerry Schrader and Ashlee Ammons set out to solve a problem that has long plagued events: people just don’t ‘mix’ at mixers.
Their solution: Mixtroz, an app that helps forge more diverse, genuine connections at mixers by driving attendees from phone to face-to-face in real time while capturing data. -
Cahaba Brewery is gearing up for June 23 CahaBazaar!
Filed Under: Birmingham Food & Drink, Downtown Birmingham, Events, Small Business
When Cahaba Brewery moved into its 51,000 square-foot location in Avondale’s Continental Gin Complex, the team had a vision for the spacious taproom that involved more than beer. The size of Cahaba’s former home limited the crowd they could host, and the community-minded brewing team was excited to finally be able to invite Birmingham into its new larger space.
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The Atlanta Fed adds Merrill Stewart, Anoop Mishra to Birmingham branch leadership positions
Filed Under: Downtown Birmingham, Small Business
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Birmingham Branch recently made two big announcements for Birmingham: Merrill Stewart, founder and president of Stewart/Perry was recently appointed to the Board of Directors, and Anoop Mishra, former REV board member, was named vice president and regional executive of the branch.
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BIZ 1.0 is headed to Ensley in June
Filed Under: Ensley, Events, Small Business, Workshops
The next BIZ 1.0 is headed to Ensley! REV Birmingham invites anyone interested in this special edition of BIZ 1.0 to come out June 15 and learn what it takes to start a business in Birmingham.
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What I learned at Woodlawn Street Market: Beehive Baking Company
Filed Under: Birmingham Food & Drink, Business-Proving, Events, Small Business, Woodlawn, Woodlawn Street Market
As the Birmingham food scene grows, Beehive Baking Company owners Sarah Schlund and Caeden Oliver are using Woodlawn Street Market to reach new customers. The co-owners first participated in the market last fall, and both say they’ve learned a lot through the process.
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Eugene's Hot Chicken owner to present expansion ideas to Rise of the Rest pitch competition
Filed Under: Birmingham Food & Drink, Business-Proving, Downtown Birmingham, Events, Small Business
Eugene’s is already the king of hot chicken in Birmingham, but the man behind the popular food truck and restaurant has even bigger plans.
Owner Zebbie Carney will pitch his plan for a North Birmingham commissary kitchen at the upcoming Rise of the Rest tour stop in Birmingham. -
East 59: 2015 Big Pitch winners still serving East Lake in style
Filed Under: Big Pitch, Birmingham Food & Drink, Business-Proving, Events, Small Business
The East Lake District boasts many incredible assets, including Ruffner Mountain and East Lake Park. Husband-and-wife duo Amber and Stephen Tolbert have called East Lake home since 2012. They love their neighbors and community, and they knew this was the neighborhood where they should start their business.