Downtown spot opening this month to feature health food.
The city is a big part of the couple’s story, Sammie Ropp said.
“I grew up in a tiny town outside of Springfield called South Charleston and he grew up in a tiny town outside Urbana called West Liberty, so this was kind of the middle ground,” she said. Downtown Nutrition will offer energizing teas, healthy meal shakes, donut holes and more. “We have a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, and the best-tasting shakes and energizing teas around,” Sammie said. The shop will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce will host the ribbon cutting for the restaurant’s grand opening on the projected opening date, Jan. 25. “Here at the Chamber, we feel Downtown Nutrition is a great addition to our community because we have nothing like it,” said Chamber Coordinator Rachel Casey. “It’s new and fresh, and a great way to start a new year with healthy options.” The Ropps are excited to open and serve the community and encourage potential customers to check the shop’s Facebook page for updates. “We are here to show people the good in the world and that what they do matters. We are on the same mission to grow and support this amazing community,” Sammie Ropp said. “This community is looking to grow and make their city better and we want to be a part of that.” Contact this reporter at 937-328- 0356 or email brooke.spurlock@cmg.com. The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau has partnered with local retailers to encourage our community to shop local this holiday season! Check out the Holiday Shopping Guides & make sure you stop by the Chamber from now through Small Business Saturday, November 30th to have your locally purchased items wrapped for free! Monday - Friday 9 AM - 4 PM & Saturday from 12 PM - 6 PM. ** 3 items per person  Monument Square District will host it's Annual Holiday Open House November 8th, 9th & 10th. Over 20 locally owned and operated specialty shops and fine eateries are participating.
  The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau is encouraging residents to shop local and shop small for the holidays by offering gift wrapping as an incentive.
The Chamber will open its gift-wrapping station starting on November 1st in conjunction with downtown Urbana’s ‘Holiday Open House Preview’ and will continue Monday through Friday 9 AM to 4 PM until December 23rd. The gift-wrapping station will have special hours on Small Business Saturday, November 30th and will be open noon to 6 PM. Shoppers that purchase items at a small Champaign County business can bring those items to the Chamber office to be wrapped. The wrapping will be free to those with a receipt form a local business, up to three items per person. People at the wrapping station will be verifying and checking receipts to verify that items are purchased locally. The wrapping station will be staffed by the Chamber and gracious volunteers. If you would like to volunteer your time or donate gift wrapping supplies, contact the Chamber at 937-653-5764 or email info@champaignohio.com.  Article & Photo by Christopher Selmek of Urbana Daily Citizen
Urbana native Matt Ropp has come home again and just opened a barber shop on Tuesday, North Locust Barber Shop, at 109 N. Locust St. According to some on his social media feed, people have been getting their hair cut at that location for at least 50 years, although it had been closed almost two years before Ropp set about restoring the property. “I’m from here, and I got my first haircut in this shop,” he said. “It was available for rent and I guess I just always had an interest in cutting hair in my hometown. I had a successful shop in Troy and I just handed it over to a guy I worked with and moved home.” Graduating from Urbana High School in 2008, Ropp joined the Army and was a human intelligence analyst until 2014. His service includes four years at Fort Lewis, Washington, and one year in Afghanistan, then following his discharge from the Army he went to college for several years at Boise State University in Idaho. Ropp said many of his international business credits wouldn’t transfer when he moved back to Ohio, so instead of retaking many of the same courses he decided to attend the Ron West Barber College in Dayton and open his own place in Troy. “I was in the shop in Troy for a year-and-a-half by myself and I was slammed, and I thought getting a second guy in there would help because some of my customers would start going to him, and that’s not how it happened,” he said. “Everyone wanted to stick with me, so it turned into trying to get him his own customers, because he was sitting there doing nothing. Now that I’m gone they don’t have a choice but to go to him, so he’s slammed already.” Ropp said he was inspired to become a barber because his brother, 10 years older, is a barber in Urbana and he was always around it. While in the Army, Ropp judged the buzz cuts of his fellow soldiers and one of his friends commented that he should consider becoming a barber. “It kind of just came naturally,” he said. “It wasn’t too difficult, because I’ve always been artistic and a creative person. I think it’s a form of art … Older guys get just the basic trim haircuts, but then there’s the young kids who get it really short at the bottom to really long on top with a line in it, or certain designs in it, and beards are back in style so we do a lot of beard trims and straight razor work and stuff like that.” Ropp expressed gratitude to his father, Kenny Ropp, for being there to help paint, watch his daughter, or assist in any way while he was preparing the shop. Ropp said he has been moving chairs and equipment while continuing to work at the Troy shop, which he handed over to its new owner Saturday, Oct. 12. North Locust Barber Shop will provide men’s haircuts and shaves. Business hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The store is closed Sunday and Monday. Click here to read the full article on Urbana Daily Citizen. Employers from various industries participating today in Talent Recruitment, Retention & Engagement Workshop for Champaign/Clark Counties.
Video by Stacey Logwood of Mental Health, Drug & Alcohol Services Board of Logan & Champaign Counties.
The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and Suicide Prevention Coalition of Logan & Champaign Counties will offer this training on 9.17.19 from 11:30 am to 1 pm during the Chamber's Lunch & Learn at the Champaign County Library. To register, call Rachel at 937-653-5764.or email info@champaignohio.com  Join us for a half-day talent forum featuring University of Cincinnati's Economics Center and national workforce expert, Ady Advantage as we uncover resources and best practices in talent attraction and retention.
Who Should Attend? Local company reps looking to obtain more tools for talent attraction and retention. What will be covered? Tools, trends and best practices in talent retention and attraction from local businesses, local and regional resource partners, and a National Consultant. Why attend? You will leave with concrete ways to improve your workforce!! Additionally, this program is approved for 5 HR (General) recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the HR Certification Institute, and through National SHRM. The event is $55 per person and includes light breakfast & lunch. |
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