SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY—Offering good food, owner of Southern Hospitality Troy Johnson aims to add variety to the Monroeville Mall Food Court. (Photos by Diane Daniels)
It is not uncommon to find a barbershop, beauty parlor, restaurant, shoe store, a jeans store, a learning center or even a travel agency located within a local mall. What is unusual is that the named establishments are operating in the Monroeville Mall and are African-American owned. Success Barber Shop, Dizire Hair Boutique, Southern Hospitality, Shoe Tweak, Curvy B Jeans, Supporting Hands Learning Center and Angels with Wings Travel Agency are a part of the 180 plus stores located in the 44 year old mall.
Displaced from the Market Square area of downtown Pittsburgh because of renewal, Chuck Fowlks has been operating Success Barber Shop in the Mall since 2008. Located on the upper level of the Mall near JC Penny’s; Fowlks says his business is good. With the long time goal to own several shops he said he always wanted to own a shop in the Mall.
“I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur, to be my own boss,” he said. “Being in the mall provides the freedom, but also provides structure.” Open seven days a week he also employees four other barbers.
Fowlks, an East Hills native attended the old Pittsburgh Beauty Academy, Penn State Greater Allegheny and Community College of Allegheny County.
With the desire to offer something more than pizza and sandwiches, Troy Johnson says Southern Hospitality Restaurant provides a diverse type of cuisine in a mall atmosphere. Also locating to the Mall from Downtown, Johnson said he was looking for a site that provided cultural diversity. Located in the Food Court in the lower level Southern Hospitality serves a variety of southern style foods, fried chicken and fish, baked macaroni and cheese, collard greens, green beans, sweet potatoes and potato salad to name a few. He also operates a catering business focusing on special events and festivals.
In the banking industry for 13 years, Johnson said he always strived for financial freedom. With a passion to make people feel good he figured the food business provided access to people. “Knowing the ends and outs of the banking business, I also have a dream to own a financial business,” he said. “I like sales and have a marketing education.”
The former owner of several what he calls Bath and Body Works type businesses on Wood Street, Johnson, a New Castle native said he has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Working around people with similar philosophes since he was a teenager he said he was taught how to manage money so his businesses are loan free and has been able to provide employment for family.
TRAVEL ANYONE—Sheila Greene, president and CEO of Angels with Wings Travel Agency, strives to take care of your traveling needs.
Like a lot of women, Theresa Hancock has a passion for shoes. She agrees with the saying of Marilyn Monroe “give a girl the right shoe and she can conquer the world.” Her way of conquering the world and providing women the right shoes is by selling them from Shoe Tweak, her shop located in the lower level of the Mall.
SUCCESSFUL—In the mall by default, Chuck Fowlks of Success Barber Shop has longevity in the facility.
With the target market of 25 to 35 year olds, Hancock, considers her store a shoetique. She said she specializes in high fashion and creative pumps, riding boots and flats. “We also sell accessories.” Shoe Tweak often participates in wedding and prom parties; fashion shows and conducts special promotions.
Excited about growth and possibilities, Hancock’s goal is to expand into a small chain, to design shoes and to have her own line. “Since coming to the mall in November, we have moved into a larger space from upstairs to our current location which makes us more visible,” she indicated.
Like Shoe Tweak, Curvy B Jeans moved from the upper level of the mall to the lower level. “We expanded from 1,500 square feet to 4,000 square feet” explained owner Vigel Cumberbatch. “It’s a major difference being located in the center of the Mall.”
A TIGHT FIT—Vigel Cumberbatch, owner of Curvy B Jeans, provides jeans that flatter ones curves.
With a focus on women, other merchandise sold in the store includes tops, dresses, fashionable shoes and accessories. He also owns and operates Sarongs the kiosk outside his store that sells big scarves that are used as wrap dresses and in unique ways.
A native of Guyana, South America, Cumberbatch said he came to the States for the American dream in 1989 with a background in aviation. His goals are to expand his merchandise, and to have Curvy B Jean stores in other malls.
Describing himself as driven, he said his philosophy is that successful people do few things, but they do them well. “I plan to follow one course until I am successful.”
Other amenities included in the mix of cultural diversity in the 1,418,700 square feet of leasable retail space of the Mall are service-oriented businesses, a learning center and travel agency, Supporting Hands and Angels with Wings. “We are considered a full service childcare and learning center not just a daycare facility,” said owner Evelyn Oliver. She explained that one of her unique features is that she provides support for the family not just the child. “I work with and encourage parents to play a significant role in their children’s life and work with them to be the best that they can be.”
Located in an inlet on the upper level, Supporting Hands caters to children from six weeks to 12 years old from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays. Three meals and two snacks are provided. Not just servicing children of employees of the mall, Oliver pointed out that most of her children are from Forrest Hills, Plum, Penn Hills and surrounding areas.
Considering her profession a calling and not a business, Oliver recalls that she has been working with children for over 20 years in afterschool programs and camps.
“This business was started by requests of parents of children who attended the center before I was involved. I started with 7 and now we have 50 children, a waiting list and 20 full and part time staff.”
If you are looking to take a cruise, for a romantic honeymoon package, a safari, or exotic island getaway, according to Sheila Greene, President and CEO of Angels with Wings Travel Agency, her agency is for you. Located on the lower level near Macy’s at the former site of a Women’s Touch, an African-American clothing store, Greene is using her years of experience to help travelers build lasting travel memories.
A home based business for seven years; Greene decided to expand into office space as a way to gain more visibility and to build her clientele. Recognizing that a lot of travel agencies are starting, Greene said hear personal touches, paying attention to detail and dedication to finding her customers the best deals is what makes her different. “There are advantages of using a travel agency,” she said. She explained that agents save you time, they can find the best deals because they know the ins- and- outs of the industry, they fight for you if something happens and that there is no fee to utilize their services. Her agency also provides passport photos and has a notary service. Her company donated 25 percent of its proceeds to charity.
Greene, a graduate of the Bidwell Training Center has worked at Triple A and while employed at Pressley Ridge was approached about becoming a travel agent.
Dizire Hair Boutique, a full service beauty salon is located on the upper level of the Mall. At press time the owner was unavailable for an interview.
Monroeville Mall, a two level shopping center is the second largest shopping complex in Western Pennsylvania in terms of square footage. It is currently redeveloping and adding 40,000 square feet of new retail space along with a state-of-the-art 12-screen Cinemax theatre slated to open in the fall.
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