Every NOW and Then

We figured that from time to time maybe we should do a quick write up about a business or in the Ohio Valley Area. Our Blog covers about 14 counties in the area and thought it would be nice to actually help out and get the good word out to the public about something interesting. Recently we received and article for OhioValleyNOW.com, our parent site, and though it be great to post here for everybody to take a look at and comment on.

The 55 West Story

55 West & Co. Mission Statement: To sell quality eccentric goods in an atmosphere that inspires the soul.

Nine years ago, Stefanie Kauffman of 55 West & Co., opened a store at 55 West Jackson Street Millersburg, Ohio, with $1000 worth of merchandise, odds and ends from her first apartments, flea market finds, and cast-offs from family and friends. She supplemented her stock with consigned high quality and unusual local handcrafts. Today, she's the proprietor of "quite possibly the coolest store on the planet!"

Kaufman relies on the talents of a dozen employees who do everything from sewing and making jewelry to arranging silk flowers, painting furniture and re-upholstering as needed. The store never fails to exude its trademark atmosphere, courtesy of intriguing Italianate architecture, original tin ceilings, signature Nag Champa incense burned daily, an eclectic mix of hand-selected CD music and Kauffman's white Husky-Malamute mix, Otis, who can often be found blocking an aisle.

In 2002, the original 55 West moved next door to the spacious former Maxwell Brothers Clothing Store, which boasts over 5000 square feet of retail space on two floors. The lower level, which boasts the original tin ceiling and an antique safe, is stuffed with hand painted treasures gleaned from area auctions, cellars and barns in Ohio's Amish country. Larger items peacefully coexist with reasonably priced quality lamps and vintage accessories for the home and Kauffman's trademark hand-painted salvage windows.

Kauffman's success comes from her ability to adapt worn castoffs with interesting paint finishes as she employs well-honed skills to create unique one-of-a-kind pieces. Instead of stripping old finishes with toxic chemicals, Kauffman prefers a light touch. Often a good cleaning and an application of one of the natural based wood conditioners (which are also available to customers) is all it takes to ready a piece for its new home. For the faint-hearted or just-plain-busy people, Kauffman offers custom painting and decorator consultations to customers.

55 West & Co mezzanines is home to "Salvage Central," the receiving end of the store where recent acquisitions are lifted to "treasure" status and architectural salvage such as grates, posts, picket fence, fireplace mantles, corbels, create an intriguing backdrop to the main store. In the painting gallery, "I try to go with what the piece asks for," says Kauffman. She likes to dress up scuffed antiques--dressers, sideboards, stands and wardrobes with splashes of color. "We're more about re-purposing eclectic grandma's attic-type furnishing than warehousing finely restored antiques," says Kauffman. She cites a recent color inspiration--hot pink, orange and olive burnished with a touch of gold--that is a top hit with recent shoppers.

"Classic Shabby Chic--the white on white look is always popular with our customers and so is black," says Kauffman who is partial to shades of blue, aqua and pastel green. 55 West clientele never tire of the fascinating mixture of old, new and restored accessories that line the walls and fill every nook and cranny of the main store. Two full flights of stairs, set off by two landings, take shoppers to the second floor where vintage department store mannequins model Woolrich fashions and stylish vintage clothing and accessories. The second story also houses a tunnel of pillows along with a sewing and upholstery center, where at times shoppers can peer through a room divider made from salvaged doors and watch work in progress--whether it's a stack of throw pillows being assembled from vintage linens or a stool being recovered with the remnants of a fur coat.

After many successful years in retail, Kauffman needed a new challenge. Her love for Millersburg and commitment to customer service led to the opening of Trailside Lodging. "Millersburg is such a quaint village, full of history and unique characters. I wanted the opportunity to share it. I love to make people happy", says Kauffman, "overnight guests at Trailside are treated like family!" She loves to send guests to her favorite off-the-beaten-path stops, and makes it her goal to accommodate every request. The cabins at Trailside offered an outlet for her incredibly diverse design skills, as well. From earthy-chic to contemporary, each cabin has its own unique flavor.

Make Trailside Lodging Part of your Country Getaway by staying in our cozy cabins that are right in the center of Holmes County and are still a secret even to many locals. These two and three-bedroom guest facilities are located along the impressive Holmes County rail trail. They're perfect for family groups--book two or three cabins to accommodate a larger group. The cabins feature a loft design with a full bath on each floor.

After your forays into the countryside where you'll enjoy exploring Amish life and culture, visit wineries and cheese shops, and enjoy outdoor recreation, return to Millersburg to kick back in your own private hot tub or lounge on the porch while the kids play frizbee in the lawn. Cook on the gas grill on your patio or gather round an old-fashioned outdoor fire ring and cook up some s'mores. Enjoy the relaxed luxury of Millersburg, the county seat where antiques in the shop are a reminder that you're staying in the quintessential small town of another era.

The cabins at Trailside Lodging each have a galley kitchen equipped with most basic cooking utensils and dinnerware for eight. Fix your own tasty meals from the bounty of seasonal produce you will discover at the roadside markets three seasons of the year. If you prefer, Millersburg offers a sports bar, a family-owned bakery, casual dining restaurants and fast food to please everyone.

Bring your bicycles and travel from one end of the county to the other, stopping at several small towns where locals find a surprising variety of goods. The Holmes County Trail is only one of several rail trails in the area and there are plenty of small country roads just waiting for you to discover them--but be prepared for riding up (and down) a few hills.

For Reservations call 330-764-6333 or email us at info@TrailsideLodging.com See www.trailsidelodging.com

How to find 55 West & Co.: See a local map at http://www.visitamishcountry.com/maps.php The store is located near the courthouse at the intersection of state routes 39 and 83 at 45 West Jackson Street, Millersburg. See the 55 West & Co. listing and web information at http://www.visitamishcountry.com/shopping.php For information about area lodging for visitors (managed by 55 West & Co.) see www.trailsidelodging.com