Author: Chamber Admin

Business Spotlight- The Antwerp Pit Stop

Posted on by Chamber Admin

The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce spotlight for March is The Antwerp Pit Stop in Antwerp, Ohio.

Christy and Tony DeLong are the owners of the Pit Stop.  It all began with a phone call and the opportunity to purchase a business.  Tony and Christy discussed the idea and then set the papers aside for awhile.  Then Gene Mosier from National Oil and Gas came and asked for a chance to meet with them and discuss things in more detail.  That was the moment for Christy when faith kicked in and it felt like the right time to take a chance and things began to fall into place.

Christy and Tony began the business with zero knowledge about what it takes to run a gas station and convenience store. Previously Christy had worked as a dental hygienist for 15 years. The last 19 years of owning the business has proven to be challenging as well as rewarding and Christy is most positive of the impact they have had on the local economy and the relationships they have been able to build with their customers.

The business, originally the Shell Station, became known as the Antwerp Pit Stop.  A gas station and convenience store that is a one stop destination for fuel, a variety of snacks and even a delicious pizza emerged as a result of that decision.   The station features multiple fuel pumps for various fuel types which makes it convenient for customers that have different fuel needs.  The convenience store is well stocked with everyday essentials, snacks, beverages hot and cold and other convenience items.

Our hometown locally owned and operated gas station is best known for its beer cave and its pizza. Being locally owned the Pit Stop adds a special touch to the community, distinguishing itself from larger, corporate chains.  Customers often appreciate knowing that their purchases contribute directly to our local economy and that Christy and Tony regularly give back to the community through donations to various community functions, sports team sponsorships as well as being very active within the community. These things are what set the Pit Stop aside as our only locally owned gas station in the village of Antwerp.

The friendly and approachable staff members work hard to keep that sense of community connection alive.  They work hard to keep a clean and well maintained gas station and convenience store and that makes a positive impression within the community.   Gas discounts are available through programs that they participate in such as Marathon Rewards and Get Upside. Customers return to the Pit Stop because of the convenient location, competitive pricing and the wide range of products offered in the store. The staff does their best to make sure customers find what they are looking for.

The Antwerp Pit Stop serves the Antwerp community as well as people traveling through town and many from across the state line. The best way that a customer can improve their experience when they visit the store is if you don’t find what you are looking for, please ask the staff. Chances are that they may be able to work with any of one of their remarkable vendors to get this item into your hands.

Congratulations to Christy and Tony on serving the Antwerp Community for the last 19 years. Your dedication to the Village of Antwerp and the surrounding communities is obvious in the care that you take with your customers, your staff and the business community of Antwerp.

Ignite Dance Academy

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Ignite Dance Academy is under the direction of Antwerp native Allison Banks.

Allison has danced alongside the professional company with the Fort Wayne Ballet for 8 years. She has continued her ballet training through Grant Training Company and Ratio Dance to expand her knowledge of competition dance.

Allison offers professional quality dance classes in the following styles: Ballet, Tap, Jazz, musical Theater, Contemporary, along with Adult classes in Ballet, Tap, Ballroom, and Stretch and Tone/Spice Moms. a Parent Tot class is also available for ages 2 and under.

Check out the Academy’s Facebook page at Ignite Dance Academy

Located at 211 S. Main St Antwerp, OHio 45813

Ignitedanceacademyohio@gmail.com

Edward Jones Investments

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Edward Jones is an investment firm that believes your financial goals deserve a face to face conversation.

We can help you prepare for retirement, save for education and be a tax-smart investor.

See Financial Advisor- Bryan R Post in Hicksville, Ohio for all your investments needs.

Office Hours are 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday

117 E. High St in Hicksville, Ohio 43526

Phone 419-542-6260

bryan.post@edwardjones.com

Antwerp Mural Project Complete!

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Antwerp’s first mural is complete. It has been such an exhilarating experience for the entire village to watch as the south side of Friend Flooring building was transformed from a plain stucco wall into a masterpiece of art. In the words of an admirer of the Mural, “It’s hard to tell where the sky stops and the mural begins!”
Antwerp Chamber of Commerce and its supporting business community as well as private citizens and nonprofit organizations funded this work of public art. Chamber Mural Committee gave generously of their time to research, plan, schedule, fundraise for and oversee this worthy community beautification project.
Morrow Painting shifted their spring schedule around just to fit in this project to prepare the wall for the artist by pressure washing and priming with the base coat (that bright blue). After the Chamber rented a lift for a week for the artist, Rain Tech Seamless Gutters donated the use of their lift truck for the artist’s use — this saved a large chunk of funds for this project — thank you Steve!
Artist Tim Parsley – it was a pleasure to work with you on this beautiful mural. Your talent is magnificent and the village is in your debt for this masterstroke.
Ray Friend (Friend Flooring) — kudos to you and yours for allowing The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce to put this mural on your building.
This mural can be interpreted many ways and that is the beauty of art. No two persons who stop to marvel at the wonderful scene walks away with the same review. Some said the Eagle represented the potential growth for the village of Antwerp and the bright future it promises. Others are appreciative of the river scene which spruces up the downtown area. The painting is so realistic in its application that it looks like a movie screen — but it’s a painting. It says “Welcome to Antwerp” without saying welcome to Antwerp.
An epic wonder to elicit awe of the area while visiting Antwerp — this was the goal of the Chamber Mural committee in completing this project. A beautification for the Village residents and visitors that will last decades.
For those unfamiliar with Antwerp, this mural is located at the intersection of SR 49 and CR 424 right in the center of the village of Antwerp. If you come into town from any direction — North, South, East or West, you can’t miss it.
2023 Gem of the Year Award

2023 Gem of the Year Award

Posted on by Chamber Admin
Denise Coleman is Antwerp’s Gem of the Year 2023.

Antwerp Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Gem of the Year awards every summer. This summer the award recognition coincided with ACDC’s revival of Antwerp Days. 

Denise Coleman was named Gem of the Year after all the nominations that were collected were reviewed. Denise was humbled by the selection and so very grateful to all who took the time to nominate her or other deserving Antwerp citizens for this award.

Coleman is an Antwerp native having graduated from AHS in 1985. She is very proud of her three boys: Zac and Blair, Andy and Mackenzie and Jeffrey and McKenna. They have blessed her life even more with the addition of 2 grandbabies: Kaden and Lenni and one on the way.

After high schoolI she moved away from Antwerp for a time, but then came home to raise her family. Denise was a hairdresser for 35 years, then decided to take a position as the secretary at Antwerp Local School, and she stated “and my favorite jobs have been mom and Grammy.”

Six years ago on August 1st, Denise took over the local flower shop, Petals and Vines. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with family and friends (and of course those grandbabes!). “I like to go junking, reading and vacationing at the lake,” she commented.

Denise is a very generous volunteer for the village of Antwerp, being a part of Antwerp Chamber of Commerce, Antwerp Rotary Club, and Antwerp CIC.

“Thank you to those who voted for the gem this year. We have many community members and organizations that deserve this award.

It takes a village to have an amazing town like ours. I’m just glad to be a part of it. Thank you,” concluded Coleman.

Denise — you are a true gem! Enjoy your reign as Antwerp’s Gem of the Year.

Hormann’s Heating and Cooling

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Our Antwerp Chamber of Commerce Spotlight for October is Hormann’s Heating and Cooling of Antwerp, Ohio.

Hormann’s Heating and Cooling have been doing business in the Antwerp community and surrounding area since May of 2002.  They offer the best HCAV installations and repairs for local residential properties.  Matt Hormann is the owner of the business along with his wife Lindsey.

Matt had worked with another area company for 9 years prior to starting his own business.   He enjoyed the work and decided to pursue the dream of owning his own business.  He saw a serious need within the Antwerp and surrounding communities so he took a chance and dove into owning and operating his own HVAC company.

Matt and his crew install furnaces, air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and generators in existing homes and new construction.  They work on both commercial and residential buildings.  They also work for several major builders in the area.  They typically work within an hour of Antwerp.

During the hot summer months, the last thing you want to happen is your cooling system to kick the bucket!  Call Matt and let his team work with you for routine maintenance services on all your cooling services.  If you suspect you have a cooling unit problem, work with the Hormann team for the best detection services. Allow them to ensure it’s working like it should. Get the best services at a price you can afford!

When the rough Ohio winters take a toll on your home’s heating systems, call the team in for pre-season heating inspection services. If your heating system starts lacking the power to keep your home warm, trust in their BBB accredited team for all repairs. Feel smarter each time your home adjusts your heating temperature. With smart and programmable thermostats, your home will learn your temperature patterns. You’ll never need to adjust your heat again!

Hormann’s Heating and Cooling are known for being honest and upfront with their customers and would never try to take advantage of them.   Honesty and neatness in work are important qualities to Matt and he strives to hire technicians with those same values. 

Matt is most proud of starting this business from nothing and growing it to the successful HVAC business that it is today.

One helpful tip from Matt is to make sure your filters in your systems are changed every 30 days. That will prolong the life of your system and make repairs much easier.

Financing options are available through the business. Please email Angie Hormann at angie.hormannhc@gmail.com for more information.

So, if you’re suddenly facing an A/C or heating meltdown, call Matt 24 hours a day for emergency repair and maintenance services. 419-258-1640.

The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce is excited to partner with Hormann’s Heating and Cooling for the growth of Antwerp and the surrounding community.

Puckerbrush of Antwerp

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The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce spotlight for April is Puckerbrush Pizza in Antwerp, Ohio.

Brian Martin is the owner of Puckerbrush Pizza of Antwerp.  He also owns Puckerbrush Pizza in Payne, Ohio as well as Puckerbrush Brewhouse also in Payne, Ohio

Brian began working in the industry in 1995 starting out at his father’s bar (The Getaway Again) in Woodburn, Indiana.  When he turned 19, he moved to Tampa, Florida where he worked for the Lavarone family in an Italian restaurant. He also worked at Michael’s Grill employed as a Chef,  Hops Bar and Brewery where he worked as a Brewmaster and won 3 gold medals in the state of Florida and a bronze medal in the Great American beer festival.  While living in Tampa for 13 years he also opened and operated several Tijuana Flats restaurants. 

Puckerbrush Pizza is best known for their delicious pizza. They also offer a verity of mouthwatering items. Everything is prepared fresh and made in-house. Not in the mood for pizza? They also offer delicious sandwiches, soups and salads.  He even offers an off sight BBQ catering service for weddings, corporate meetings, graduation parties and more.

One thing that sets Brian and his crew apart from other pizza places is the quality of employees.  All of them work hard keeping up with quality food and operations on a daily basis.  Unique food, friendly service and a fun atmosphere are a few of the things you can expect from Puckerbrush Pizza. The experience you get at Puckerbrush is one you cannot find anywhere else in Paulding County.

Puckerbrush has been serving the community since 2011.  First in the town of Payne and recently they opened up a second shop in Antwerp in 2022.  When a customer walks into the pizza shop the smell of quality pizza and other foods that are unique to Puckerbrush assail your senses combined with well-trained local kids working and serving within their community make this a unique dining experience.  For many of these kids, this is their first venture into the world of work.

One thing that sets Puckerbrush apart from other pizza shops are the ceiling tiles that have been designed by local artists, interesting stickers, and the crew is always jamming to music while they work.  All of those things combined create a great atmosphere.

Brian is most passionate about developing people that are truly interested in working within the food industry.  He mentors these young men and women and encourages them to put out a quality top notch product.

One little known secret about Brian and Puckerbrush is that his original plan was to be open in the winter time and then travel in the summer… he never envisioned on being this busy in such a sparsely populated geographic.

He encourages people to step out of their gastric comfort zone and try a new and delectable dish specifically created by Brian himself.  “Not only was it a great excuse to get away and savor a peaceful evening in a small Ohio town away from the hustle and bustle, it was also a great place to get some really tasty pizza.” – Journal Gazette

Check out Brian’s website www.puckerbrushpizza.com and find him on Facebook at Puckerbrush Pizza of Antwerp, (419-506- 2002) Puckerbrush Pizza (Payne Location 419-263-2626) and the Puckerbrush brewhouse.  The brewhouse has a nice selection of coffees, smoothies, frappes, beer, wine and donuts.

The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce is excited to partner with Puckerbrush of Antwerp in the growth of Antwerp and the surrounding community.

Five Star Deck Building and Fencing

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The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce spotlight for March is Five Star Deck Building and Fencing based in Antwerp, Ohio.

Bob Bragg is the owner of Five Star Deck Building and Fencing. He and his wife and children reside in Antwerp.  In 2019 as Covid was ramping up he was managing a family business which everyone knows was a very difficult time for small businesses. Bob felt compelled to strike out on his own and pursue something for himself.  He began doing a few projects here and there for people that he knew.  What began as a side gig with just himself and an extra pair of hands here and there turned into a thriving business which employs 8 people today.

Bob’s company can do a variety of construction jobs.  Their main focus is building decks and running fencing. They have also built pergolas, gazebo, and poured concrete and built pole barns.  In the winter they do interior remodeling jobs. They create functional, appealing outdoor spaces where you can enjoy the beauty of nature comfortably.

Bob is an entrepreneur.  He has that type of personality that thrives in the customer service industry.  He has always enjoyed talking to people and people enjoy discussions with him.  This has been a great adventure so far and Bob and his crew hope to continue down the same path for years to come.

What sets them aside from others in this type of business is the fact that his crew, the job site foreman, himself and the person they are doing the work for are all closely involved in the project.  Bob and his crew sincerely care about the work that they are doing. They treat their customers like family and in return they use that energy to put out the highest quality of product available. They strive to be the best and Bob will vouch for each and every one of them.

When a customer chooses Five Star they are making an investment in a long term and typically expensive project. Bob wants them to get the best out of the products and services they are providing.  You can hire someone for less money and get an average job done.  That is not who Five Star Deck Building and Fencing is.  They want to build something that is going to last and exhibit the quality of materials and workmanship that they are known for.

Customers will often call Bob back after a job to ask him to complete another project for them.  They know who he is and know that they are getting the best people in the area. They know that the customer service will always be there for them long after the job is completed.

Bob and his crew serve a geographic region roughly around a 50-55 mile radius of Antwerp.  When asked about a funny or strange anecdote about his business, he declined to elaborate but did say that it is nice that people can joke and have a good time about what they do but still keep it on a professional level.

Bob started his business from the ground up. He had an idea and he turned that into the thriving business he has today.  He is proud that he did it on his own and takes responsibility for that.  The business relies on him to do his job day in and day out and he is beholden to no one. People have helped him along the way and he appreciates the support of his family and friends.

Customer service and quality are the two main things that a customer can expect from Bob and the unique thing about his business is that while it is a small business they are competing in a big world.  Their quality, customer service and building relationships make them stand out in a crowd of similar businesses.

Bob has worked many jobs in his young life. He has worked in a factory, construction, worked in a family business, worked retail and several jobs doing outside work.  Each one of those jobs taught him things about how to structure my workplace.  He values each of his employees and when they need a day off, they get the day off. Their families and lives come before work.  That was something he hated about the factory life, being treated like a number in a system, being penalized for things out of your control, no vacation time until you have been there for awhile.  Bob prides himself that he does not treat anyone on his crew like a number.  They have health insurance, retirement options, vacation, and time off work when they need it.  They know that they are valued and that their job will be there tomorrow.  Thankfully he was able to work in places that taught him what he didn’t want to do with his own business and that is why he is able to keep such a great group of people around him.

One tip he would give to a prospective customer is to do a little research on the project that they are wanting completed.  While some people may not know what something is going to cost, it is beneficial to check out online prices and get a rough idea of costs.  Bob hates to disappoint people that thought their job would cost $5,000 and the quote ends up being quite a bit more. 

If you are interested in talking to Bob about a project, you can reach him at (260) 444-7678 or by email at bob@fivestardecksandfencing.com. Check out the website at https://fivestardecksandfencing.com Follow them on Facebook. The company is now partnering with Hearth to offer financing for your project up to $250,000.

Bob is proud to employ local people and he wants to remind everyone to SHOP LOCAL.

The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce is excited to partner with Five Star Deck Building and Fencing in the growth of Antwerp and the surrounding community.