New businesses and apartments in West Lafayette's Brickstone Building
WEST LAFAYETTE − The Village of West Lafayette is on the upswing with several new businesses having opened in the past year. Adding to the success is the renovated bank building at 100 W. Main St.
Now called the Brickstone, the structure dating back to 1910 houses Bubbles and Barks Dog Grooming Boutique, Nails by Missy, Village Massotherapy and Palmbay Studio. There's one open storefront yet with seven upstairs apartments and three downstairs apartments. Five of the apartments are already rented. An open house for the building will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 8.
Ed and Susan Myers bought the building about a year ago and started renovations. It was originally the West Lafayette Bank, then Coshocton National Bank and over the years has also housed doctors offices, a hardware store and offices for the West Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. Goodyear Tire and Rubber also rented the bank vault for safeguarding of its formulas and important documents outside of Akron.
"We totally gutted everything, clear from the floors to the ceilings," Ed said of remodeling.
The renovations
Chiseling off the plaster to expose the original brick is something Ed is most proud of and he feels it gives the building a unique look. He took on the project for the good of the village he's called home since the age of 11.
"I've always loved this building," Ed said. "This was the nicest building in town."
Along with business space, Ed said West Lafayette needs more housing. This includes focusing on the downstairs apartments for senior citizens. There are two outside doors with keyless entry and interior mailboxes.
"Our goal is to revitalize Main Street here. We're losing businesses and we're losing buildings. We want to keep the history of the town," Ed said. "My wife is a retired teacher, she taught at Ridgewood. So, we're both dedicated to the community and wanted to do something."
Collaboration and community feedback
Missy Courtright of Nails by Missy said all of the shop owners are working together and pointing clients toward each other.
"I'm glad to be in West Lafayette where I live and hopefully we can get some more people up here," Courtright said as she looked at the other available buildings around them. "I hope this starts something with the community."
Terri Grove of Palmbay Studios and Kayci Dickerson of Village Massotherapy are friends. They would often go by the Brickstone and comment on how it would be a perfect place for their businesses.
"I get goosebumps talking about it," Grove said on everything working out. "It all fell into place. Even before Ed and Susan bought it, we were looking at it."
"I've known Ed and Susan for 20-plus years. When he said he bought this building, I knew I wanted to be a part of it," Dickerson added. "It's exciting to see it come back to life and to be a part of it is special."
"People love the building and how nice and new it looks, it's up-to-date. A lot of people have said you don't picture this place in West Lafayette," Nicole Kellish of Bubbles and Barks said. "It's old, but new. They kept a lot of the brick and it just looks really nice. It's modern, but they kept the old feel."
The businesses
Bubbles and Barks Dog Grooming
Bubbles and Barks is operated by Abbey Kellish as the full-time groomer. Her sister, Nicole Kellish, assists with bathing and other work. Nicole wants to be able to do cutting as well eventually or for them to add another full-time groomer. They offer facials, baths, haircuts, nail trims and de-shedding services among more.
Nails by Missy
Nails by Missy is operated by Missy Courtright of West Lafayette. She's been a nail tech for nine years and always wanted to be her own boss. She previously had a space as an independent contractor at Wild Styles Hair Studio. She now offers gel polish, gel extensions and other related nail options. She wants to add a pedicure chair in the future and more services geared toward senior citizens.
Palmbay Studio
Palmbay Studio is operated by Terri Grove of Plainfield. She does spray tanning, chemical peels, facials, full body waxing, eyelash extensions, eyelash lifts and tints, brow tinting and waxing and brow lamination. She would like to offer more services in the future, such as permanent makeup. Grove was a nurse for more than 10 years, but always wanted to get into the beauty and wellness field. She became licensed in March.
Village Massotherapy
Kayci Dickerson of West Lafayette opened Village Massotherapy in 2019 at another location in the village. She's been a massage therapist for 16 years. She does therapeutic and relaxation massages in 30, 60 or 90 minutes sessions. She's taken a few classes on K-9 massage and would like to explore that more.
Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @llhayhurst.
This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: West Lafayette's Brickstone Building welcomes businesses, apartments
