THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 29, 1995 TAG: 9509270179
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04W EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 109 lines
If you're planning a wedding and need to iron out many of the flower and decorating details or learn how to decorate the wedding cake, you can do it at the Fire Brand Building.
If one of the members of your wedding party needs to remove unwanted facial hair to look good for the wedding, that can be done at the Fire Brand Building, too.
If someone suffered a muscle pull and needs relief in order to participate in the ceremony, it's available there, along with fire extinguishers and handmade crochet gifts.
The Fire Brand Building is an unusual, mini-shopping mall that resembles a two-story barn in the Deep Creek section of South Military Highway.
The building will hold an open house this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the ninth anniversary of Shirley B's and to highlight the other businesses that inhabit this deceptively spacious building.
All of the building's businesses - Shirley B's, Your Crochet Connection, Fire Brand Inc., Electrology By Karen and the newest addition, Body Journey, a therapeutic massage service, will participate in Saturday's open house.
``We feel we have a unique little mini-mall here, offering several unique services and products,'' Perry said. ``We just want to let people know we're here, right on Military Highway.''
Here is a look at the businesses housed in the Fire Brand Building:
Fire Brand Inc., a 19-year-old company which occupies the back end of the Fire Brand Building, specializes in all manner of emergency fire, rescue and safety equipment.
The business was the original tenant after owner John McNulty bought the 15-year-old building in 1985.
``After we moved in we used part of the building for our needs and we rented the rest out to other businesses,'' said Fire Brand general manager Danny Sullivan. ``We moved to Chesapeake from Virginia Beach 10 years ago. We like the location here. The recent opening of the new interstates is a big plus for us.''
Sullivan said his business offers fire, safety and rescue equipment to fire and rescue squads in Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News and other cities.
Shirley B's specializes in silk flowers, balloons, fresh flowers, cake and candy supplies and lessons in cake and candy decorating. It is owned by Shirley Brooks Perry, who was born and raised in South Norfolk's Portlock section.
Perry opened Shirley B's in one of the building's upstairs spaces in October 1986.
``When I was 16 I worked for the Portlock Dime Store. I guess you could say the seed for my creativity was planted there,'' she said. ``I used to decorate the store's windows for holidays and special displays. But I've always done something in crafts as a hobby. I'm one of those people who can't be still. I have to do something. I like to make gifts for people.''
Perry is also a wedding coordinator, flower arranger and teaches cake decorating and candy making. The retail area of her store offers cake and candy making materials, including hundreds of molds and pans of every shape and design, decorations and novelties, boxes, flower supplies, helium balloons, baskets, display boards and how-to books.
``I like it all, really,'' Perry said about her many faceted business. ``See what hobbies will do for you?''
Your Crochet Connection is a small business owned and operated by Frances ``Frankie'' Morrell and her husband Richard.
She offers custom crochet and knitting items. Frankie Morrell makes the hand made crochet items and Richard Morrell creates all types of knit goods, including hats, sweaters and booties.
Morrell said she's been at the Fire Brand Building for two years, operating her business on its second floor.
``You don't become a millionaire crocheting for people,'' she said. ``But I love to do it. I've been crocheting ever since I was 12. I never thought I'd make any money off of it. But here I am, having raised my family, and now I'm in business.''
Electrology by Karen is a hair-removal service owned and operated by Karen Felton Reeves.
Reeves permanently removes unwanted hair by destroying the hair roots with an electrified needle.
She has been in the building for about two and a half years, having moved to Chesapeake from her previous Portsmouth Boulevard location.
``I underwent treatments for a problem I had and, to me, they were very uncomfortable,'' she said. ``I decided to take up the skill and offer my clients a painless, comfortable service. I also noticed that there weren't any black electrologists offering this service to people of color with their unique skin problems and conditions. Even though I offer service for people of color, I help all people.''
Body Journey, a therapeutic massage business owned by Walt C. Mazyck, is the building's newest tenant.
The business is called Body Journey because his sports massages offer a ``destination to a healthy self,'' he said.
He said his massages relieve most muscle tightness ``from a sudden charley horse to habitually tight neck muscles.'' The treatments help reduce stress, he said.
``Massage is one of the best known antidotes for stress,'' he said. ``Reducing stress gives you more energy and reduces your likelihood of injury and illness.'' ILLUSTRATION: OPEN HOUSE
What: Business open house, door prizes and refreshments
Where: Fire Brand Building, 3025 S. Military Highway
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Who: Shirley B's, 487-7770; Fire Brand Inc., 487-4646; Your
Crochet Connection, 487-5578; Electrology by Karen, 485-2408; and
Body Journey, therapeutic massage, 485-0630.
by CNB