News from the biz front

Heart attack averted at Borders today
Well, I thought I might have one when I walked into the Brentwood Place book store a few minutes ago. Wide empty spaces. Tables and tables of sale merchandise.
I know the economy is bad, but certainly our Borders isn't about to go belly up? I still have last month's coupons to use.
Taking a deep breath after taking a 360-degree twirl to take in the changes, I saw two likely candidates for answers and said, "Do you work here?"
After an affirmative nod, and a "Can we help you?" I bluntly asked: "What's going on? You're not closing are you?"
I really didn't want to hear the answer.
Well, there's good news to share. Borders is not closing. It's remodeling. And I understand the young adult section is going to be interesting.
As soon as I have a chance to chat in detail with sales manager David Beddow I'll share all the scoop. Now, be still my beating heart ....

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Sisters get right to the point
Speaking of businesses, renovations and such, I popped into Nashville Needleworks grand opening last week.
Only wish I had seen the shop before the three formidable Thorman sisters (and one husband-brother-in-law) went to work transforming it into the light, white workspace and retail store it is today.
From the tales they shared, it's night and day literally in the Brentwood Court storefront where they've put up their shingle. The sisters are Lisa, Emily and Jennifer.
Lisa Thorman Rusche's husband Bud did the bulk of the renovation. Lisa and Bud recently relocated from New England where they ran a bed and breakfast to take over management of The Brentwood, the B&B on Murray Lane, from Lisa's dad Dick Thorman and his wife, Ly Anne.
Jennifer Thorman is a natural-born entrepreneur, with her hand not only in the needleworks store as its main tech person, but also as a teacher and small business consultant, webmaster and Microsoft Office specialist.
Store manager Emily scouted out and found the store's location and has transferred her management skills from The Brentwood to Nashville Needleworks.
The sisters are convinced their business has a ready clientele. For years, the Green Hills needleworks store Metamorphosis owned the market. When Lisa learned that the shop had closed, she saw an opportunity, talked with her sisters and a business was formed. They opened in mid-May.
I don't do needlework, but have always admired those who create beautiful works of art with a needle, canvas and fibers. Sitting with Emily for five minutes last week made my appreciation grow deeper. For instance, I had no idea that certain canvas artists have followings just like best-selling authors.
"All the canvases we sell are hand painted, not machine painted," she explained of the racks of designs in the store. "That's a big deal."
In addition to canvases, Nashville Needleworks sells amazing fibers and materials. It also hosts sit and stitch events, classes, and trunk shows. Don't be surprised if "Meet the Artists" nights aren't on the calendar soon as well.
For more information, check out http://www.nashvilleneedleworks.com/, call 377-6336, or drop by the store, located at 7020 Church St., 5 Brentwood Court.

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Big idea to come

Expect one more business-minded post to come soon. I've been crafting an idea in my head all day and just need to get it on "paper." Always dangerous.

It's big. Real big. It involves four wheels, big money and big thoughts. It may also involve Baptists.

Stay tuned.

Another new Town Center business!

Nashville Needleworks event today

The extent of my needlework career is one ill-fated Girl Scout cross-stitch project about 40 years ago. So I am no expert on what makes a good needleworks store.
However, my friend Debbie Heibert does beautiful needlework so when she tells me about something she's excited about, I take it as a full-on endorsement.
And she had lots of great comments about Nashville Needleworks, the latest new business to open in Town Center. It's tucked beside Sweet Pea's at 7020 Church Street.
An open house and ribbon cutting are planned today, with festivities beginning at 4 p.m. So drop by, introduce yourself and check it out. I'm hoping to be there, too, so look for more information on the shop to come.

Two inches of rain and other news

The rain gauge at the BrentWord home office shows just shy of two inches of rain in the last few days. Just thought you might care deeply.

Fair prospects next month
And if it's rainy, and then gets really, really hot, it must mean the Williamson County Fair is just around the corner. It is.
The now not-so-new summer extravaganza opens Aug. 7 for a nine-day run and includes something for everyone. There won't be a Brentwood booth this year I'm told but look for several of our commissioners, city and county, and other notables to be driving parking vans, golf carts and helping out in other ways.
Last year's Ms. Senior Williamson County Fair went on to when the national crown. The "singing granny" was from Nolensville. Surely we have a Brentwood contender this year?
Details about all of the events, the pageants, the midway and more can be found at http://www.williamsoncountyfair.org/.
I'm on the prowl for Brentwood-related fair news, stories and pictures. If you have some to share, please email me at brentword@comcast.net.

When a dog types, expect mistakes
Sally the Dog was so kind to mention Samantha, our 11-year-old golden-retriever-who's-not in Wednesday's Brentwood Journal. Sam has a torn ACL, a bad hip and is starting to feel her age.
Sally also sent condolences to Skip and Debbie Heibert of Brentwood, who lost their beloved dog Tinkie recently.
Unfortunately Skip became Steve in the newspaper. But I guess these things happen when a dog starts typing.

City's tourism site woven with intrigue
Speaking of the Brentwood Journal, two stories yesterday are connected but only I know the scoop. I'll let you know as soon as I have to sit down and type up the tale. In the meantime, check them out for yourself. You may remember reading about Nashville Needleworks here last month (http://tinyurl.com/NashNeedle). Great shop, so if you love needlework, check it out!
Here are links to the BJ stories:

*Sisters turn craft hobby into Brentwood business: http://tinyurl.com/BWnneedle
*Brentwood opts for in-house promotion: http://tinyurl.com/BWtourweb

Crime update
Chief Watson emailed this morning that there are no new developments in either the remaining unsolved home burglaries or recent vandalism cases. A $1000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the vandalism, which took place in Brenthaven, Brentwood Pointe and nearby areas earlier this week.
Hopefully the reward will lead to the apprenhension of those responsible -- and serve as a gentle reminder that a few minutes of "fun" can have very serious consequences.

Calling all Brentwood fair winners!

Congratulations to Lisa Rusche of Nashville Needleworks (and The Brentwood, a Bed & Breakfast), who won a Blue Ribbon for her Lamb & Eggs needlepoint at the Williamson County Fair.
If you win a contest or ribbon, let me know so I can blog about you! Just send an email to susan@brentwoodhomepage.com and put Fair Winner in the subject line. Feel free to attach a photo too!

Valet parking Tuesday, and down the road

Red Mountain Bank makes it official

Red Mountain Bank, which opened two months ago at the corner of Franklin Road and Maryland Way, is ready to make it official. A ribbon cutting is planned Tuesday at 4 p.m. and everyone's invited.
Worried about parking? No need. Market President Rick Archer told me today they'll have valet parking and everything for the special event.
"We've had a great first two months," he said. "We've been blessed, especially in this economy. We're very happy."
He's not the only one.
The Birmingham-based bank performed a miracle at that very visible corner that makes me happy every time I drove by. It, along with other redos in the city's commercial district are slowly but surely making the area look brighter even without a lot of new development, or redevelopment as the case may be.
In addition to the ribbon cutting, the open house will feature hors oeuvres, Red Mountain Bank's signature coffee and visitors from its home office.

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More valet on the way

Speaking of redos in Town Center, did you see Vicki Stout's feature on Judge Bean's Bar-B-Que in Sunday's Williamson A.M.? If not, here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/BWbean.

Speaking of valet parking, Aubrey Bean mentioned to me on Friday he hopes to offer valet parking soon to alleviate some of the parking and traffic flow headaches being experienced at the Brentwood Court shopping center off Church Street.

The addition of Beans to the mix of already successful established businesses (Sweet Pea's, Sugar Drop, Amy's Gifts) and new ones (Nashville Needleworks) is becoming an issue. The lot has not been improved in ages. Check back later for more on this topic.