Transitions and Expansions
Author: ERIC SMITH
Photo by JOHN BURNS
Two other Brookwood businesses recently had big changes.
SoulFire Nutrition, a healthy, local alternative to fast food, as co-owner Evie Blanco describes it, opened June 1 at its new location in the shopping center, just a short walk from its old location next to Linen Tree & Co.
“It was kind of a partnership deal, we wanted to support Kelly[Schuster] and she wanted to expand into our space,” Blanco said. “And the Robb Company wanted to ensure they kept SoulFire at Brookwood Shopping Center because they love us, and we love them. We worked with the Robb Company to get a bigger newer space that was more customized to what we needed for our nutrition club.
”With the move, SoulFire has also expanded its menu, offering meal replacement shakes, herbal teas, protein drinks, sports performance nutrition, and nutrition for the whole family. They also offer free group fitness classes and nutrition education and personalized nutrition coaching. The business, which has new and improved hours, features a Tasty Tuesday the second Tuesday of every month with a free tasting and mix and mingle from 7 to 8 p.m.
“It’s going awesome,” said Blanco of the business, which has been in Brookwood since 2018. “We have a lot bigger space for our customers to hang out with friends and stay awhile, kind of like a coffee shop feel. Our customers are loving the new space, and we’ve been blessed.”
Linen Tree & Co., a home decor and gift shop that’s been in Brookwood 40-plus years, took over SoulFire’s previous space, knocking down a wall for an expansion and updating the area with shiplap, new flooring, and other renovations.
“I’ve just had it in my mind to do this,” said Schuster, who’s owned Linen Tree for nearly four years. “The store has a good following that have been coming here for years. But I just felt there was a real opportunity to add new merchandise that might bring in new customers, and we just didn’t have the space here to do much of that. So, we just decided to do it.” Schuster said they brought in a ton of new items, including accent pieces, among other things. Of course, they also have linens, bath and kitchen towels, bedding, shower curtains, rugs ,and lots of spa items.
“We’re really excited about everything that’s happening here,” Schuster said. “Business is great, and all kinds of new people are coming in.”
