Day: November 25, 2019

A Local Pack and Ship Business and an Animal-Loving Artist Team Up This Holiday Season by Melissa LaScaleia Since 2008, ShipOnSite, Myrtle Beach’s full-service neighborhood shipping center, has been the anchor sponsor for the Best Friend of the Week Program for Easy Radio 105.9/100.7 and Talk 94.5.  ShipOnSite is owned and operated by entrepreneur Frank Espinal. Since it was established in North Carolina in 2003, ShipOnSite has grown to eleven stores— each of which offers pack and ship services with all the regular carriers, as well as specializing in crating large and delicate items.  “I’ve always felt that businesses should give back to the communities that they serve,” Frank says. “And that’s the foremost reason why I found and continue to sponsor the Best Friend Program.”  Through the program, a shelter animal will be featured live on the air once a week, and perhaps win the heart of a listener who will provide him or her, a permanent, loving home. Also as part of this program, ShipOnSite collects pet food and supplies to distribute to the local area shelters. Since they began this initiative in 2008, ShipOnSite has collected 63,500 lb of goods for animals. As a ‘thank you’ for supporting this cause, when people come into the store to make a donation, they also receive a discount on their shipping service.  “At the end of the day, this program is a way for ShipOnSite to give back, and fill a gap that is needed in our community,” Frank says. “Mohammed Ghandi said: ‘The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated.’ That quote really resonates with me.  Better together. Artist Dean Russo (left), with Frank Espinal (right), teamed up to launch the Russo’s For Rescues campaign in Myrtle Beach. — Photo Rachel Ogg “I spent twenty years in the military— I’ve been deployed to all parts of the world— and I can tell you, the one thing you notice really quickly is that the animals are neglected— just running rabid and starving in the streets. You see it everywhere. That’s why I chose to support the animals. Because they cannot speak for themselves.”  Recently, Frank was looking for another means of raising funds to help animal shelters.  “As non-profits, they rely on donations to support the animals’ needs,” Frank says. “When they run out of funding or space, that’s when they are compelled to take drastic measures, including euthanizing animals.”  When one of Frank’s customers, an art framer with connections in the art world, told him that a gallery in Charleston was working on a partnership with a world-renowned artist to establish a fundraising campaign to support animal shelters in South Carolina, Frank decided to meet with the parties involved to see if he could offer assistance.  The gallery is the S. Cato International Investment Gallery, and the artist is animal lover and advocate, Dean Russo. As an artist, Dean’s large-scale, colorful portrait paintings have been described as ‘Andy Warhol crossed with pop artist Keith Haring’s fondness for animals, with a little bit of Louisiana ‘Blue Dog’ artist George Rodrigue thrown in.’ The fundraising campaign Dean began is called Russo’s for Rescues. Through it, art and animal-lovers can purchase framed reproductions of Dean’s original portraits of animals, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the local animal shelter of your choice. The gallery and Dean were wanting to launch the fundraising campaign out of Charleston, with the Charleston Humane Society as the main beneficiary of the proceeds. But they were running into road blocks— as their lack of connections with the Humane Society was preventing them moving forward with their intentions. A patron admires Dean’s art work at the Meet and Greet held at the Alabama Theatre in Myrtle Beach on October 25. — Photo Rachel Ogg This was where Frank was able to help. Because of his established, long-time connections with all of the area shelters in Myrtle Beach, he was able to help them spawn the initiative much more quickly by transferring the launch campaign to Myrtle Beach.  “Once ShipOnSite got involved, we opened the shelters of the Grand Strand market to the fundraising campaign,” he says. “Because we were operating under the Best Friend of the Week Program and already had the framework established, not only could we begin, but we also expanded who would benefit, enabling the new initiative to provide funds to more than just one shelter.”  Now there are a multitude of shelters that will benefit from Russo’s for Rescues. Just a few of them are: All 4 Paws; Coastal Animal Rescue; Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach; W.A.R.M.; St. Francis Animal Shelter; The Animal Care Center of Horry County; Grand Strand Humane Society; Pet Helpers; and the Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Charleston. (Visit www.russosforrescues.com to see the full list.) “Additionally, through working so closely with all the area shelters as a sponsor of the Best Friend Program, I could give Russo’s for Rescues all the information that they needed about the shelters,” Frank says.  The group began to implement the idea in August. Dean’s agent, the Regency Fine Art Gallery in Atlanta, set up the website— www.russosforrescues.com—where people can purchase Dean’s artwork in a variety of sizes.  Russo’s for Rescues was launched in Myrtle Beach with a Meet and Greet at the Alabama Theatre on Friday, October 25. Dean Russo came for several hours to meet fans and animal-supporters and sign his artwork.  This holiday season, you can gift a print, such as the one shown above, to yourself or a friend, and feel good knowing that you’ve also helped support shelter animals. — Photo Rachel Ogg The following day, there was a Meet and Greet in Charleston, at the S. Cato International Investment Gallery on King Street. Between the two events, they raised a total of $3,000.  Today, art lovers and animal lovers can come together to raise badly needed funds for shelters, while Dean’s artwork stands as a visual reminder of the need to promote adoption, and advocate for the … Read more

We Take the Pain Out of Painting by Melissa LaScaleia The owner of PaintRx in Myrtle Beach forged his company’s roots while attending Purdue University in Indiana.  Joel was looking for an internship for post-graduation, when he came across a flyer that offered to teach business skills to those who wanted to buy into a franchise.  “Running my own business had always been my dream,” Joel says. “So I applied for it. The company was called College Pro Painters. Painting isn’t the coolest, sexiest business out there, but I decided to pursue it while I was still in college and see how it worked out.     “I was doing a lot as a college student, and my parents really didn’t want me to sign up for it. I had to invest a lot of money to buy the franchise, and keep employees busy full time, and I was locked in for one year.” He went ahead anyway, and his junior and senior years in college, Joel broke the company’s industry records for being the best in several categories: Best in the Industry, Top Gun Rookie Sales, Quality Manager of the Year, and Brand Experience Award.  The first year, he had twelve painters working for him— and the second, he had twenty.  The painters of PaintRx are overseen by foremen who have between 20-35 years of experience. — Photo Meganpixels Parker “I was working hard,” he says. “The second year, I was again awarded Quality Manager.”  Then College Pro Painters recruited him to work for them in a wide-scale capacity. After graduation, he oversaw all the franchises in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, and was recruiting college students to start their own franchises. He was a general manager for three years, and trained his team of twenty franchisees on every aspect of the business— from labor techniques, to managing employees, to marketing and sales.    “I went from running a small local business to growing and scaling the business throughout the region,” he says. “College Pro Painters trained me on what I know today.”  From there he went to work for a national franchise, and oversaw all the operations of the business with them.  In June 2018, Joel’s fiancé was assigned to Myrtle Beach for her residency as an emergency room doctor. The two relocated here, and Joel opened his own business once more— named PaintRx, in her honor.  With PaintRx, Joel draws upon all of the skill, passion, organization, leadership, and customer service that he employed in his college years and beyond, that made him and the companies he was involved with such a success.  PaintRx does not contract out any of their jobs, nor do they float between them, so you can expect exceptional work, delivered consistently, and finished in a timely manner. — Photo Meganpixels Parker PaintRx does all types of interior and exterior painting for residential and commercial establishments, including kitchen cabinets, garage floor epoxies, boat docks, and decks. They don’t use any subcontractors, so people know they can expect the same quality work Joel’s always delivered, done over the course of consecutive days without any bouncing around from job to job.  “As a company, we show up, and we show up on time,” Joel says. “We deliver on our promises, and I stay in tight communication with customers. We are professional.”  PaintRx does any necessary prep work like dry wall repairs, caulking, or priming.  “We haul most of our equipment away at the end of the day,” he says, “and if we do need to leave it, we leave it tidy. If it’s an interior job, we move all the furniture and use drop cloths to protect everything.  “We use all top-of-the-line paints from Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, and PPG. We don’t use any builder-grade paint, unless it’s specifically requested. We buy so much paint that we get great discounts, and we pass that savings on to our clients. We offer free estimates, and provide a detailed proposal in which everything is itemized so our clients can see the breakdown of costs, and choose the services they want.”  PaintRx will do any necessary prep work before undertaking a paint job such as dry wall repair or priming. They haul most equipment away at the end of the day, and use drop cloths and move your furniture to keep everything protected, ensuring that they take the pain out of painting for you. — Photo Meganpixels Parker “Our painters cut the straightest lines in town,” Joel adds. “Our foremen have been in this industry anywhere from 20-35 years, and the rest of our crew members have years of experience as well.”  They’re not only skilled, but also very friendly, polite and professional as their Facebook and Google reviews attest. “I’ve been doing this now for about eight years,” Joel says. “I’m here to stay.  “My goal is to raise the bar in this industry by providing an exceptional experience. And I’ve learned to take care of your customers. If you do that, the rest is going to work out.” PaintRx Licensed and bonded. 843-999-0226 www.paintrx.co Facebook @ PaintRx

Where Comfort and Elegance Go Hand in Hand and Garment to Garment by Melissa LaScaleia Eunice Han opened Sora Bora Boutique in the Market Common this past July. The name pays homage to her East Asian roots— Sora means ‘light blue’ in her native Korean tongue; Bora is ‘purple.’ The two also happen to rank among Eunice’s favorite colors.  “And,” she says, “together they sounded unique and memorable to me as a name for my boutique.”  Sora Bora carries upscale casual clothing for women of all ages.  “The pieces are timeless and elegant but with a little twist of fun and a bit of sweetness to them that correlates to the Myrtle Beach lifestyle,” Eunice says.  Sora Bora also carries some accessories like hand bags (with a great selection of high-end vegan ones), and jewelry, as well as natural body products like essential oils and soaps.  All of the items in her store are very high-quality, sourced from a trade show in her native NYC that Eunice attends bi-annually. She handpicks everything herself, offering a selection that is appealing because it is simple, classic, comfortable, and easy to wear.  Eunice hand-selects all of the products and accessories she carries from a trade show that she attends bi-annually in her former home of NYC. — Photo Meganpixels Parker “The products have a New York flavor but are perfectly suited for local people here,” she says.  Eunice’s shop is small and just as beautifully and tastefully laid out as the clothing and accessories she fills it with.  She created the design, and personally completed all of the labor herself to bring her vision to fruition.  “I wanted to bring aspects of what some of the quainter streets and parks of New York City look like into this space,” she says in speaking of the decor which is accented by gentle touches like birch tree branches and natural wood elements.  “It’s cozy in here. You feel so comfortable when you walk in.”     Eunice was born in Korea, and moved to Philadelphia when she was seventeen-years-old. She later relocated to New York City where she lived for twenty years. She and her husband met and lived there, until they recently took a vacation to Myrtle Beach. They fell in love with this place, and within the year, the two had traded in their life in the big city for Myrtle Beach.  — Photo Meganpixels Parker Although this is her first brick and mortar business, Eunice is no stranger to entrepreneurial ventures. For years she ran a successful online store on Etsy, where she designed and crafted women’s handbags and backpacks.  “I’ve always been fashion-oriented and creative,” she says.  Now she devotes all of her time and creative passion to making Sora Bora a success. And she’s well on her way.  Customers of all ages, from teens to retirees, love what she does and offers.  Check them out this holiday season for elegant dress wear and small, unique gifts for that special friend or family member. “I want to help people make every day special and every event memorable through the clothing they wear,” she says. “I’m taking my time, building my business very personally. I am happy that with Sora Bora, I can make a positive and lasting contribution to the variety of what is offered here in the Market Common.”  Sora Bora Boutique 926 Iris Street, Unit A, Myrtle Beach SC 29577 Tu-Sa 11am-6pm 843-945-6164  Facebook @ Sora Bora Boutique.

We’re Just Different by Melissa LaScaleia If Mozzarella’s is a restaurant known for being different, certainly the story of how this local, family owned eatery came into being falls under that moniker as well. About a year ago, Debi Perry and her partner Paul Striso visited Myrtle Beach on vacation from New Jersey. They fell in love with the locale, and two months later moved down to live a semi-retired life. “We just wanted a different life, an easier, more relaxed, more spiritual life,” Debi says. Paul’s plan was to work part time and play golf.     “But,” he says, “as usual, man plans and God laughs.”  Paul and Debi knew they wanted to run their own business— something that would draw upon Paul’s background in sales and marketing, and Debi’s management and organizational skills.  One day, driving up Highway 17, they stumbled upon a turn-key pizzeria for sale in the Market Common. Instead of calling, they went in and talked to the owner, and three hours later, decided to buy it.  Vinny runs Mozzarella’s kitchens and makes a multitude of varieties of hand-tossed traditional and Italian specialty pizzas. — Photo Meganpixels Parker “Life is all about new adventures,” Paul says. “So we jumped all-in.”  “Neither one of us ever owned a pizzeria before, but my son Vinny has been in the restaurant and pizzeria business for fifteen years,” Debi says. “He always wanted to run his own kitchen and I knew he was a great cook. He had no idea what we were up to, but after one phone call, he was sold. Vinny relocated from Florida to come help us open and run our new business, Mozzarella’s.” Mozzarella’s just opened its doors in the Market Common last month. The restaurant seats about forty people inside, and has a small outdoor patio space. The upbeat eatery serves traditional Italian and specialty pizzas, including Sicilian, pan and thin-crust pizzas, calzones, strombolis, wings, and hot and cold subs. Vinny makes Mozzarella’s marinara sauce, meatballs, and dough from a combination of family recipes and his own experience. “We buy quality, top-of-the-line ingredients and cheeses to make our menu items,” Debi says. “All of our recipes are our own. We’re part Italian, so we drew upon our heritage in forming our menu. It’s a very simple and basic family style menu. But what makes us different is that everything on our menu can be converted into a low-carb item.” Two years ago, Debi began to follow a ketogenic diet for health reasons. Ketogenics eliminates sugar, processed foods, wheat, grains, and flour from your diet, and provides guidelines for managing your proteins, fats and carbohydrates. “There are no nitrates or GMOs. It’s a clean, whole foods-based diet,” Debi says. “I traveled a lot for work and could never find clean food to eat other than salads and basic meats. I learned how to keto-ize everything, even Italian food. Paul and I eat this way all the time.   “With Mozzarella’s, we wanted to incorporate this way of cooking our food into the traditional pizzeria menu — and introduce this way of eating to others. People think it’s hard, but it’s really not.” Mozzarella’s wants to introduce a healthier way of eating to the community, so everything on their menu can be made low carb. — Photo Meganpixels Parker Their low-carb pizzas are crafted from Rella dough— a dough made entirely of almond flour and a blend of their high-quality cheeses.  They also make low-carb sandwiches, called Rellawiches. In place of traditional bread, they use dough made from blended cheese and eggs. They plan on offering other low-carb options in the future, like cauliflower crust and zucchini noodles. Debi’s daughter, Briana, is an Executive Pastry Chef who will be joining in on the family business. She and her husband, David Charles, will be relocating to the area later this month from New Jersey; the two are expecting their first child.  Mozzarella’s plan is to incorporate some of her pastry making talents; she’ll be making homemade cannoli cream, cheesecakes, Italian pastries, and some ketogenic desserts. Paul and Debi want to see additional Mozzarella’s all along the Grand Strand.  “That’s our company vision,” she says.  The two wanted to bring their family together and create a fun, eclectic vibe to host their guests.  “Paul came up with the idea that we offer our space up to local artists to create murals, paint the tables, and showcase art,” Debi says.  “Everything in the restaurant is for sale,” she adds, “including Vinny.” Mozzarella’s 1600 Farrow Parkway, Market Common, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 Open M-Sa 11am-9pm 843-839-3999 Facebook @ Mozzarellas 5% off your bill if you mention their daily specials on Facebook, or this article. Same menu all day long. Take-out, delivery, dine-in, & catering. Stay tuned for their happy hour specials and local live musicians playing at select times.