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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.
The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce spotlight for November is Ties and Bows Craft and Novelty
Shop in Antwerp, Ohio.
Marilyn Graft is the proud owner of one of the newest business establishments in Antwerp. Ties and
Bows is located at 410. E. River Street in Antwerp, Ohio, which is most recently the site of
Bragg’s chiropractic office. Marilyn has enjoyed crafting since she was very young and it has
been a part of her adult life off and on between other jobs.
She started making stuffed elephants about 5 years ago when her granddaughter was expecting and
the nursery theme was elephants. She made blankets and burp towels and then decided it was
time for toys. She started with flannel and then decided to try ties. She would deconstruct the
tie, quilt it and make the elephant. Each quilted seam is hand knotted. No two are alike. Even if
the elephants are made from the same fabric, they are still different. Each one has its own
personality. One animal led to another as customers asked for dogs, cats, pigs, sharks, and
dinosaurs.
Marilyn was doing craft shows until COVID hit. When it was slowing down, she saw an ad in The
West Bend paper to join an outside show and rummage sale at the home of Krazy Krafters on
Canal Street. It was so much fun and the Krazy Krafters adopted her into their group. She rented
a room so that she could do inside shows as the weather was getting cold. Tonya Walker of
Krazy Krafters took it over and we expanded. Each time it was time to end, Marilyn and the
Krazy Krafters were saying, “If we just didn’t have to pack up the heavy displays and store them
until the next show”. In August of this year, Marilyn took the plunge and purchased the old
chiropractor office to sell crafts and projects that she could not do at home because of space.
Krazy Krafters and Ties & Bows will continue to collaborate on sale dates and special events.
Tonya, Vicki, Michelle, Uncle Larry, and Diane have been a great help to Marilyn and her husband,
Ralph, in getting the shop up and running. Thank you does not go far enough to express their
gratitude. It is an ever-changing shop with several rooms to explore. You never quite know what
you might find. As you enter the front door you will see a variety of unique, inexpensive
displays, including bags of locally roasted coffee beans. While best known for the elephants,
Marilyn also does hats, bags, floral, and soon will return to making glass art. She is especially
proud when she sees a child (or adult) hug an animal and smile. Her passion is making someone
happy with that unique one of a kind item that she was able to create for them.
For a special occasion or ‘just because”, she will try to make what you want in a one-of-a-kind
reasonably priced item. She can use ties or fabric that belonged to a loved one to make beautiful
keepsakes.
Marilyn is happy to be a part of Antwerp and hopes people will stop in to see the shop and let her
assist them with what they may need. She can also work with vintage baskets to make unusual
floral pieces.
The Christmas shop is open and snowmen and snow-ladies are ready for a new home. The room will
feature nativity scenes to help us remember the reason for the season. She hopes to see
everyone in the shop especially during this holiday season.
The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce is excited to partner with Ties and Bows in the growth of
Antwerp and the surrounding community.
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.
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.
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.
The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce spotlight for February is Pin-A-Rama bowling alley, located in downtown art 207 West Daggett Street Antwerp, Ohio.
The owners of this newly purchased and remodeled business are Reggie and Brandi Clem. Regan and Lindsay Clem. If you want to take a step back in time, visit this uniquely renovated bowling alley/diner/pizza establishment. Pinball machines, 50’s retro dining look, craft bottled sodas, milk shakes, hamburgers and hot bologna sandwiches made on Bob and Virg’s magical grill, Ruth’s famous cole slaw and a variety of pizza make this place a must go to for friends and family events.
When the Hogan family decided to sell the bowling alley, Reggie and Regan and their father Rollie Clem, hated to see the bowling alley disappear. Without the bowling alley, there really wasn’t a place outside of church, bars and school activities for people to get to know one another and have a good time. There wasn’t a place for a family to have a fun night out in our little town. The Clems wanted to continue to make that happen, so they took a chance and are bringing the place back to life like we all remembered about it from our childhoods growing up.
The Pin-a-Rama was built in 1957 by Bob Johnson and Virgil Meyers. Many Antwerpians remember time spent at the bowling alley. Friday night bowling when there were no ballgames, birthday parties with friends, bowling in leagues both in high school gym classes and then later as adults. The famous fried bologna sandwiches. Bob and Virg sold the business in the 90’s and it has changed many hands and business names as well. The Clems are determined to bring back the wonderful burgers and fun that Bob and Virg had created.
The bowling alley is the only one in Ohio west of Defiance. It is a great place to have parties and the benefits is you don’t have to clean up the mess. One of the best things they love to hear is about how the burgers bring back memories of when they were growing up and spending time at the bowling alley.
Reggie and Regan are most proud of the support the business has received from the community. While this has been a huge learning curve for them, the community has been awesome and supportive through it all. They are looking forward to serving the community for years to come. Pin-a-Rama is more than just a bowling alley. It is a place to grab a good burger, shake or malt. It’s a place to get a pizza and share with friends. It’s a place to play pinball and have a good time. It’s a place to have a party with friends. It’s a place where friendships are made and grow. In fact, they have already had several couples who have had their first date at the bowling alley.
When you walk into their business you can expect to travel back in time to a place where the burgers are fresh, the shakes are great and friendships are made. What makes them unique is the taste of the burgers, the large variety of craft sodas and just a fun 50’s diner feel.
Reggie has several bowling leagues organized including one during the daytime and a kid’s league on Saturdays. Monday afternoons from 3-5:30 there is unlimited bowling and a free craft soda for $5.
Regan and Reggie commented “Here is our commitment to all of you though. We will strive to get better and better. We will be better next time than we are this time. We want Pin-A-Rama to be one of your favorite places in the whole world, just like it was for us when we were growing up. We want to be a place where people build friendships and our community is made better.”
The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce is excited to partner with Pin-A-Rama in the growth of Antwerp and the surrounding community.
