Archive for the ‘Merchant of the Month’ Category
Summer vacation…we eagerly anticipate it all year long, but before you know it, the back-to-school sales are beginning and kids have glum looks on their faces. There’s one place, though, where the learning environment is in full-swing during every season of the year and smiles grace the faces of children and adults – our merchant of the month, Educate & Celebrate!
With locations in Waldorf and Prince Frederick, Educate & Celebrate specializes in selling quality educational materials for use at home and in the classroom, including books, flash cards, stickers, bulletin board sets, games, interactive whiteboard software for smart boards, and children’s classic literature. For older students, Educate & Celebrate offers Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) preparation materials as well as the books recommended for preparing for the Advanced Placement (AP) examinations that earn students college credit while still in high school. They also stock the summer required reading materials for both Calvert and Charles Counties and a host of materials for Sunday schools, preschools, and daycare centers.
Educate & Celebrate is the brainchild of Laurie Uherek of Huntingtown, Maryland. Raised among a family of teachers, Laurie learned early in life that the quality of the educational materials is a vital part of ensuring a solid education for a child. Her hometown hosted an educational store that stoked her desire to start her own business providing educational materials and supplies. “There’s nothing better to sell than something that stimulates educating a child,” Laurie says. Entering her 20th year in business this October, Laurie has fulfilled her lifelong dream of owning such a store – and she owns two of them! The Prince Frederick store, established in October of 1991, offers a wide variety of items for family shoppers, while the Waldorf store, which opened in 2002, is geared toward teachers.
In addition to educational materials, Educate & Celebrate also sells school and preschool furniture, desks, chairs, mats, cots, chalk and white boards, overhead projectors, and learning carpets for classrooms. They also feature educational and specialty toys and games that inspire critical thinking and stimulate the mind and encourage creativity. For budding scientists, there are chemistry kits, erector sets, and DNA kits, too. Each year, Laurie attends the international toy fair in New York City to find unique or award-winning toys that compliment their market and who they serve. They carry some licensed products (Thomas the Tank Engine and Calico Critters, to name a few), but Laurie enjoys offering unique products that can’t be found in the larger chain stores.
Laurie lives in Huntingtown with her husband and two children and takes pride in involving herself and her business in the community. Educate & Celebrate partners with groups to help support causes, like autism awareness, the United Way, and the DARE program. Laurie serves as Vice Chair of Calvert Memorial Hospital and is also very involved in the arts as the treasurer of Ann Marie Gardens, a sculpture garden and arts center in Solomons Island. “Giving back to the community is what keeps me motivated and connected to the community,” Laurie says.
Join the staff at Educate & Celebrate on Friday, August 20th for an open-house. Each store will be open from 9am-9pm offering free gifts with purchase, hourly drawings, refreshments, and a chance to win $500 in merchandise as a grand prize for the day.
Educate & Celebrate’s two locations are open Monday –Thursday from 10 AM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday from 12 to 4 PM.
Prince Frederick location: Calvert Village Marketplace, 122 West Dares Beach Road
Waldorf location: St. Charles Towne Plaza, 1300 Smallwood Drive West
Each month we try to introduce our merchant of the month with a catchy scenario or couple of sentences that set the stage for what we are going to tell you about them. This month, we’re going to be short and sweet, and once you read more, you’ll understand. Ready? Here goes:
Got dirt?? If you do, then you will definitely want to contact our Merchant of the Month! Mid-Atlantic Power Washing, Inc., of Annapolis, Maryland, is poised and ready to remove the dirt and grime from the exterior of your home, deck, sidewalks, place of business, parking area, motor fleet, boat – you name it, they can wash it. Mid-Atlantic specializes in commercial and residential pressure washing using both hot and cold water and chemicals that are gentle on the environment.
Robert Hardesty founded Mid-Atlantic Power Washing in 2001 after demonstrating his skill with a pressure washer while performing power-washing tasks on an occasional basis. Since then, the business has grown from a one-man operation in Southern Maryland to a crew of 12 pressure washers, two foremen, a fleet of eight vehicles, and a support staff that keeps things running behind the scenes. Mid-Atlantic now serves customers all over Anne Arundel, Calvert, Prince Georges, and Howard counties from its headquarters on Lee Street in Annapolis.
In addition to routine pressure-washing jobs like homes, patios, commercial buildings, sidewalks, and parking areas, Mid-Atlantic cleans gutters and washes and stains decks and fences, too. They also help beautify the environment by removing graffiti. “Pressure washing actually forces the graffiti into the brick,” Rob says. Mid-Atlantic uses techniques that pull the graffiti out of the material and restore it to its unmarred condition. They also bring their own water to every job.
One of the most unique aspects of Mid-Atlantic’s process is that they perform wastewater recovery to prevent runoff from reaching the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways. The impact of wastewater recovery is key when cleaning commercial areas, as the build-up of substances like grease, oil, and chemicals on parking surfaces can be significant. Mid-Atlantic also has a crew available to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency situations like truck fires and oil and hydraulic fluid spills.
For residential customers, Rob recommends pressure-washing of decks every two to three years. He also notes that any type of siding can be pressure-washed: vinyl, aluminum, composite – even cedar siding, which can be stained and re-sealed after a good wash. If you are preparing your home for sale or rent, Mid-Atlantic can help you beautify your property – they work frequently with realtors and property management companies doing just that. The average house washing is typically about $300 but depends on the square footage and height of the house; for businesses, the square footage sets the cost.
Mid-Atlantic Power Washing operates Monday through Friday and on weekends as well. Call Rob for a free estimate and be sure to mention that you heard about Mid-Atlantic by reading the Cash Flow Plus newsletter – you’ll receive 15% off any service for the month of July!
Mid-Atlantic Power Washing Inc. (410)266-6866 www.mid-atlanticpowerwashing.com
Many families take to the beaches of Maryland and Delaware for their summer vacations. Last month, we featured one of our merchants whose business is right on the way to Assateague Island. This month, we are focusing on a merchant along the beach-bound path who embodies a Maryland summer tradition that rivals steamed crabs: fresh, crisp, and healthy vegetables and fruits! As you travel to or from the Eastern Shore, be sure to stop at our Merchant of the Month, Mill Creek Farms.
Located at mile marker 55 of westbound Route 50, one mile south of the Route 404 and Route 50 junction in Maryland, Mill Creek Farms offers a tremendous assortment of produce and the plants that you need to make your yard beautiful from spring to fall. Dick Roberts and his family have been serving customers at his market for 30 years, and Dick himself has been in the produce business for 45 years. During the spring, you’ll find bedding plants, annuals, vegetable plants, hanging baskets, and, of course, early season produce. Summer brings a large selection of local produce, including corn, cantaloupes, watermelon, tomatoes, peaches, and more! Come fall, they’re stocked with mums, gourds, cornstalks, pumpkins, and late season produce.
In addition to fresh produce, Mill Creek Farms also stocks a wide assortment of Amish products from Northern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, including pies, cakes, and cookies that are fresh every day. Other popular items include double-yolk eggs and Amish sodas, too. You will also find pickles, jams, jellies, spices, noodles, nuts, candies, and honey. The store is air-conditioned, too, and you can grab a cold drink for the road while you’re stocking up on fresh goodies!
Mill Creek Farms is open seven days a week, 8 AM to 7 PM (sometimes later on weekends) from Memorial Day to Labor Day; in the spring and from Labor Day to late October, hours are 9 AM to 6 PM every day of the week. If you mention that you read about them here, you’ll get something special!
After 45 years in the produce business, Dick told us that he’s ready to retire and spend more time where he winters in Key Largo, Florida. He’s offering the business for sale. If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity, or know someone who is interested in purchasing a thriving business, please contact Dick at 410-820-2323 or contact us at Cash Flow Plus and we’ll put you in touch with him.
Mill Creek Farms, Wye Mills, MD (Mile Marker 55 on Westbound Route 50) 410-820-2323
Ah, the month of May…the weather continues to warm, the school year is winding down, summer vacation beckons, and Memorial Day weekend officially opens the summer season at the beach. If your summer includes a trip to Ocean City or Assateague Island, be sure to schedule a stop at the Assateague Market, our merchant of the month!
Located on Stephen Decatur Highway/Route 611 in Berlin, Maryland, not too far from eastbound Route 50, Assateague Market is a one-stop-shop for everything that you need for the beach or a seaside camping vacation. In addition to groceries, the market carries camping and fishing supplies (including bait and tackle), beer, wine, ice, toiletries, and household supplies. You can also find firewood for your campsite, kites, everything you need for the beach, RV and boating supplies (limited stock available), and souvenirs. There’s even a deli where you can get fresh food made to order such as super-stuffed subs, personal-sized pizzas, coffee, fountain sodas, and hand-dipped ice cream. Assateague Market is also a gas station – fill your car or camper’s gas tank or exchange your propane tank while you’re there.
Jerry, the owner of Assateague Market, purchased the store seven years ago after having owned and operated stores on the Ocean City boardwalk. His fiancée Lisa manages the market, and they have both called Ocean City home for 27 years. Lisa likes to stock as many “made in the USA” items as she can, and she tries to support the community by featuring locally-made items in the store. While a lot of their customers are campers and vacationers who pass through, they also serve many regular locals and day trippers, too. Many customers return year after year, and Lisa and Jerry welcome them back. “My fear is that Mom and Pop-type stores are becoming extinct. Our customers support us, Mom and Pop, they are amazing! We have the most wonderful customers! ” Lisa says. Customer service is #1 at Assateague Market!
Assateague Market is open from April 15 to October 31. During the peak summer season from Memorial Day to Labor Day, hours are 7 AM to 10 PM, sometimes to 11 PM to service campers’ needs. During the spring and fall the hours are a bit shorter. If you stop in during the month of May, be sure to mention this article to receive 20% off any souvenir or deli order!
Assateague Market, Route 611/Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin, MD 410-641-3380
With the arrival of spring, many people turn to the time-honored chore of spring cleaning. Out comes the vacuum, scrub brush, rags and polish to shake off the dust that accumulated over the winter and welcome the fresh air into the home. Maybe, though, your home could use more than just a cleaning this spring? If you’re looking for a new look for any part of your home, consider new flooring from one of our featured merchants of the month!
Design Expo Flooring offers a wide variety of flooring products for your home, including carpet, 115 species of wood flooring, tile, laminate, slate, and natural stone. Owner George Mysior has been in the flooring business for 30 years, starting out with a carpet cleaning business, then opening Affordable Flooring and Home Services Inc. in 1980 after his customers encouraged him to go into installing carpet! Soon the company began installing other types of flooring as well. George decided to enter the retail marketplace four years ago when he opened Design Expo Flooring locations in both Dunkirk and Edgewater, Maryland. The showroom carries the largest selection of hardwood flooring in the area and features carpets by Shaw, Fabrica, Kane, and Southwind, among others – along with a staff of professionals to install them for you. “We have the finest installers in the area!” George says. Design Expo Flooring is offering a 10% discount to Cash Flow Plus readers for the month of April (excluding sale items). Visit them at 10814 Town Center Boulevard in Dunkirk, or 64 Central Avenue in Edgewater. Find them on the web at www.designexpofloors.com.
If you live closer to our nation’s capital, look no further for your flooring needs than the Home Flooring Center in Capitol Heights. Ken and Amanda Storm own and operate the business and are ready to help you find the right floor for your home. Ken has been in the flooring business since 1980, working as a carpet installer before striking out on his own in 1989 to open the Home Flooring Center. Amanda worked in the medical field before joining her husband to open the business. Home Flooring Center carries all types of flooring, including carpet, vinyl, laminate, hardwoods of many species, ceramic, and marble, and features carpets by Shaw, Kraus, and Mohawk, to name a few. They also offer floating cork floors specifically designed to reduce noise. Their eight crews consist of skilled installers of carpet, ceramic, and hard surface installations, and their showroom is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM. Visit the store at 9020 Edgeworth Drive in Capitol Heights and check out their web site at http://www.myhomeflooringcenter.com. For the month of April, Ken and Amanda are also offering Cash Flow Plus readers a 10% discount on regularly-priced items.
Back on February 2, when Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter weather, he certainly wasn’t kidding! The Maryland area received record snowfalls in February, and many people are wondering if spring will ever come and taking bets on when those large snow piles in area parking lots will finally melt. Spring is, in fact, just around the corner, and soon you will be thinking about planting annuals and vegetables, fertilizing your lawn, and sprucing up your garden. If you want to stay ahead of the game and enjoy a lush lawn and garden this summer, look no further than our merchants of the month!
Longwood Gardens, located at 5405 Leonardtown Road in Waldorf, MD, has been in business since 1982. Owned by Steve Golding and his sister-in-law Joanne Golding, Longwood is a fully-stocked nursery that offers landscaping design and installation. The seven-acre nursery carries a large variety of trees, shrubs, bedding plants, annuals and perennials, along with garden chemicals, fertilizers, bulk and bagged products, rocks, landscaping materials, and ponds. Longwood’s landscaping crews install and maintain custom gardens, patios, retaining walls, or ponds. Nursery hours vary with the seasons, but for the month of March, Longwood will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 5 PM, and 9 AM to 3 PM on Sundays. Hours and coupons are available at their web site, www.longwoodgardens.com. You can reach them by phone at (301)645-4047.
Nicholson Nursery, LLC, is owned and operated by Mark Nicholson, Sr. Mark grew up working in a family-owned landscape company and started his own landscaping business at the age of 18, planning and designing gardens in the Chevy Chase, Georgetown, Bethesda, and Washington, DC areas. After raising his family, he relocated to Tracy’s Landing, MD, where he started his own nursery under the name of Friendship Gardens, changing the name to Nicholson Nursery last month due to the large amount of nursery stock carried by the business. Nicholson Nursery, located at 27 Deale Road in Tracy’s Landing, carries a full line of nursery stock, hardgoods, mulch, and seasonal items. The phone number is (410)867-3333.
For a beautiful lawn and garden, contact one of our merchants today!
In today’s rushed world, a haircut appointment can be very relaxing. You are able to spend some time sitting in a comfortable chair, enjoying a bit of “down time” while the stylist offers a warm shampoo treatment, then brushes, combs, clips, gently tugs, and dries your hair. While a haircut is one of those necessary things in life, an hour with your hairstylist is often like a visit with a good friend – especially if you get your locks trimmed at Cuttin Loose!
Located at 12100 Charles Street in La Plata, Maryland, Cuttin Loose is a small but cozy shop that provides a myriad of hair and beauty services to the local community. Cyndi Basulto, owner and proprietor, operates a simple, efficient one-woman salon that welcomes a family of regular customers on a regular basis.
As a child styling the hair of her dolls, Cyndi never dreamed that she would own her own hair salon! She was born in Washington, D.C., and her family moved several times during her childhood years to follow her father’s career – from Florida to Michigan, then to California, where she obtained her license. In 1997 she moved back east to Maryland. Shortly after getting settled, Cyndi walked into Cuttin Loose for a haircut, and within weeks she was working as a stylist in the salon. By 2006 she had purchased the shop and has been cutting and styling there ever since.
Cyndi and her husband, a native Californian, and her two teenaged children live in the community and among the customers that she serves. After 23 years in the business, she still enjoys cutting and styling hair. “I cut hair because I love my customers,” she says. She considers them her extended family.
Cuttin Loose offers hair cuts, hair color and highlights, permanent waves and waxing. A manicurist is also available by appointment. Fancy up-do hairstyles for weddings, proms, and dances are also available.
Cuttin Loose LLC 12100 Charles St. La Plata, MD (301)934-5722
Sisk Auto Body, in Owings, Maryland, is a family-owned operation specializing in collision repairs, auto body work, and vehicle detailing services. Doug Sisk, an accomplished auto body specialist, worked for years in other shops honing his craft before striking out on his own in 1981 to open his own business. Now with his wife Terri, their four children, and a staff of highly-trained auto body specialists as part of the business, Doug oversees the day-to-day operations at Sisk Auto Body, ensuring that every customer is completely satisfied with the results of their vehicle repairs.
“It’s your car. It’s your choice.” That’s the motto of Sisk Auto Body. In fact, Sisk outlines a Consumer’s Bill of Rights on their website (www.siskautobody.com) that every automobile owner should read! “Don’t ever let the insurance company tell you where to take your car,” says Muffy Sisk, one of Doug and Terri’s daughters and the owner of the friendly voice you will hear when you call the shop. The Sisk’s daughter Barbara manages the business.
Having an accident is traumatic enough without the added stress of having to choose the right place to obtain repairs. Sisk makes that easy by offering ASE-certified technicians, guaranteeing their work for as long as you own your car, and providing references on request. Sisk works with all insurance companies and handles collision repairs as well as other types of auto body work on all makes and models of vehicles – they’ve even performed repairs on fire trucks and ambulances. They also offer general paint services. At any given time in their shop at 167 Thomas Avenue, they have 20 repair jobs ongoing and average about 80 car repairs per month – and every repair service comes with a wash and vacuum.
If your car doesn’t need repairs but could use a spruce-up, Sisk can take care of that for you. Their auto detailing services are affordable, and the quality of the work is top-notch. A basic hand wash and wax with an interior vacuum and wipe-down starts at $160 for most cars, and an additional $100 will cover an interior shampoo job. Machine buff services start at $150.
Sisk cautions all drivers to be especially careful on the roads at this time of year. They are currently seeing a lot of auto damage due to collisions with deer.
Cash Flow Plus has had a relationship with Sisk since 1991 and can attest to the quality of the workmanship provided by Sisk Auto Body. The Sisk family provides great work at the right price! Visit their web site or give them a call for more information!
Sisk Auto Body www.siskautobody.com (301) 855-5525
Do you remember the days when you would make an appointment to see your doctor and you would actually see the doctor that you wanted to see? When you were more than just a face in the waiting room? When your doctor’s “bedside manner” was like Marcus Welby’s? These days, it’s tough to find a family doctor in a small practice who takes the time to really listen to you – unless you live in the Annapolis area!
South River Primary Care of Edgewater, Maryland, is committed to offering timely, professional, quality and compassionate health care to all members of the local community. Dr. Tim Fry and his staff spend the time needed – not the time recommended – to provide care for every patient, using everything from the latest diagnostic tools and techniques to the oldest and sometimes most effective tools to hear what patients are saying – their ears!
South River Primary Care opened its doors in 2007, but Dr. Fry has been practicing medicine in the Annapolis area for almost 10 years. Born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, Dr. Fry learned from his parents that hard work, honesty, and pride in a job well done, along with a healthy dose of patience and compassion, would serve him well in life. He pursued his dream of becoming a physician by attending Penn State, then traveling to Western University of Health Science in California, and back east to complete his training at The Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Fry and staff welcome to their friendly and comfortable atmosphere all patients, established as well as new, all ages, and accept most insurance plans.
As we move into the cold and flu season, Dr. Fry recommends that in addition to the standard tips for washing your hands, getting plenty of rest, eating healthy and exercising, you should consider taking a good multivitamin supplement that contains Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc, and Echinacea during the winter months. He also recommends taking a trip to someplace warm if you can!
South River Primary Care is located in Suite 330 at 3168 Braverton Street, Edgewater, MD. Phone: (410)-956-7830, Fax: (410)-956-7832
Do you have a vehicle with broken or damaged auto glass? Wizards & Waterfowl, LLC can help! Don’t let broken auto glass compromise your safety and the structural integrity of your vehicle any longer.
Wizards & Waterfowl, LLC, is a Pasadena-based auto glass repair business that is constantly on the move! With a fully-mobile 13-foot workshop, W&W can come to your home or place of business to service your auto glass needs. Their workshop is outfitted with everything necessary to repair dings, cracks, and other types of damage to your car windows – even entire windshield replacements! W&W serves a 25-mile “as the crow flies” radius of territory around the Pasadena area.
You’re probably wondering what wizards and waterfowl have to do with auto glass repair! We won’t keep you in suspense: Chris Donaldson and Mike Meredith, the two main W&W business partners, served in the U.S. Marine Corps together during Desert Fox (the peacekeeping operation that followed Desert Storm in the early 1990s). Chris served as a helicopter repair technician and an aerial door gunner – a tough job in a very dangerous part of the world. Chris’ nickname was “Duck,” and Mike’s nickname was “Merlin” – hence the name, Wizards & Waterfowl. While it might not immediately make you think of auto glass repair, it’s a name that will stick in your mind – and that’s good to know when you need top-quality auto glass services. In fact, Chris has been in the business for eight years and was recognized as one of the top 15 auto glass technicians in the country with his previous company before striking out on his own with W&W in November 2006.
Wizards & Waterfowl services both residential customers, businesses with fleet vehicles, and everything in between. The majority of their business comes from word-of-mouth referrals or the accounts that they already have in place. They also have established solid relationships with glass shops that don’t handle auto glass and refer as well as receive business from these relationships.
“We stand behind our work with a lifetime warranty as long as you own your vehicle,” says Chris. W&W can repair or attempt to repair windshield damage up to the size of a dollar bill. If the repair is unsuccessful (or successful but cracks again in the future from the original point of repair), W&W credits the money paid for the original repair toward the purchase of a new windshield. Repairs are $50 for the first “hit” and $15 for each additional hit or damage point on the windshield. The average windshield chip repair takes about ½ hour to complete, while a full windshield replacement can take up to two hours. W&W is approved to handle claims for most major auto insurance carriers, including State Farm, Allstate, Geico, and Erie.
When he’s not doing auto glass repair, Chris works part-time for a Pasadena-based home improvement company as an insurance-trained estimator and salesperson for roofing, siding, windows and gutters. Karen Donaldson, Chris’ wife, serves as the W&W bookkeeper (when she’s not performing her duties as senior financial analyst for Alpha National Resources, the fourth largest coal company in the US).
During the month of November, Wizards & Waterfowl is offering $15 off any installation service to Cash Flow Plus customers and friends. Give them a call – they’ll work magic with your auto glass needs! (443) 962-2791.