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Female entrepreneurs bet on downtown

Date: 11/4/2011

Nov. 2, 2011

By Lori Szepelak

Correspondent

WESTFIELD — Several local women have recently plunged head first into the role of entrepreneur — all with the same hope — to be a part of the revitalization of the downtown area.

“It was now or never,” Kimberly McNutt, owner and baker of Mama Cakes at 31 Elm St., said during a recent mid-morning break in her baking. “The city is changing and we want to help give an extra push.”

Since Aug. 13, McNutt has served up fresh cupcakes daily with a motto — “cupcakes makes everything better.” On this morning, her refrigerated shelves were filled with flavors ranging from cookies and cream, mint dream, cookie dough and apple brown sugar, to chocolate peanut butter, pumpkin spice, black forest and Boston cream. She also prides herself in the specialty cakes that are offered. In the coming months, McNutt also hopes to add homemade cookies and breads to her menu.

Despite the sidewalk upheaval in recent weeks, McNutt sees the light at the end of the tunnel.

“I see a very bright future for Mama Cakes,” she added.

Lou Sirois, owner of Ezra’s Mercantile at 34 Elm St., a gift and home decor shop, is also bullish on the downtown area.

“The time chose me,” Sirois said, noting that she had been laid off from her job and was deciding which way she wanted her future to unfold. Sirois added she had been working in the Conner’s building, clearing out rooms and tearing down walls, so when she finally looked at the site, she knew it would lend itself well to a gift shop.

Sirois offers a variety of health and beauty luxuries, home decor items, and gifts for all ages and occasions. She is especially excited to offer the Farmhouse Fresh spa product line from Texas, which includes all natural products including Bourbon Bubbley.

“I try to find items that I haven't seen before and that I would want to buy,” she said.

At the other end of Elm Street, Cheryl DeNardo noted that her family owns the block that includes the new Elm Street Diner, and she is betting city residents will welcome another venue choice for breakfast or lunch.

“We didn’t want another vacant building downtown and we felt a diner would be a nice complement to the area,” DeNardo said.

Currently, the homey and well-lit diner serves breakfast from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and lunches until 3 p.m. The lunch menu includes a variety of sandwiches and homemade macaroni and potato salads, as well as “comfort foods” such as meatloaf and shepherd’s pie.

“We’ve been doing well and we hope to extend our hours to serve dinner soon,” DeNardo said.

Mayor Daniel M. Knapik noted that the Elm Street corridor remains his “number one priority.”

Knapik cited Westfield State University’s Landsdown Place, a 219-student off-campus housing project on Thomas Street, as one example of the foot traffic that will help each business downtown thrive. Additionally, the conversion of the old State Normal Training School on Washington Street for housing Westfield State students is another step in the downtown revitalization effort.

Knapik also noted the Columbia Rail Trail, the Great River Bridge Project, and Park Square Green, are all integral to enhancing the downtown area and encouraging pedestrian traffic.

“We’ve hit every goal we’ve set,” Knapik said, adding, “all the expectations are being delivered now.”

For weekly updates on traffic patterns around construction sites, the Green River Bridge Project and Park Square Green, visit www.westfielddevelopment.com.



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