Five new businesses open in downtown Medford

“Everything we make, we make by ourselves, and it’s all food we love to eat. We just want to give people a bargain and for people to be full and happy,” Brown said.

Monty Brown said he hopes their three-week-old business will mean a new beginning for his family after his job ceased to exist during the pandemic. The cafe offers made-to-order sandwiches, espresso and sodas.

“My wife, she loves to barista. I’ve been drinking Dutch Bros and Human Bean for years, and I prefer my wife’s coffee,” he said.

The couple put in long days remodeling the space to offer a touch of personality with their food and coffee. Brown said they’re eager to try new things as they work to build a client base.

“We were coming in at 6 a.m., but nobody showed up until 10. So our new hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. But if people start coming earlier or later, we’ll be there,” he said.

New menu items could be coming soon. The couple are experimenting with rice and chicken bowl recipes now, and recently offered biscuits and gravy, cookies and soups. Burgers could be on the horizon if business picks up.

“We have a grill and a fryer. I’d be back there slinging burgers and fries, but we don’t have child care. When people start coming in, I take the kids home with me, and my wife runs the place. People don’t usually come for the infant experience,” he said.

Micheal Sistok, owner of 101 Tattoo at 101 S. Grape St., has seen changes in the eight months he’s spent building up his fledgling business.

“I spent four months here remodeling before we opened in December of last year. At first, it was a daily battle with the homeless to get ‘em to quit hanging out in front of our shop and leaving garbage everywhere. But it’s gotten much better. We don’t really have a problem anymore,” he said.

Now he enjoys the nearby restaurants and what he called a “family vibe” in the evening foot traffic.

Sistok worked at T-Mobile for six years until business slowed during the pandemic, giving him the chance to turn his love of drawing into a new career. He stayed at the cellphone shop long enough to put himself through tattoo school, then worked in other shops until he could open his own.

Sistok hired James Shulo for his shop, and each artist offers something different, he said. Sistok specializes in flowers and traditional American tattoo style in the vein of sailor Jerry, while Shulo offers neo-traditional tattoos with color work and black-and-white realism.

“There’s this vibe in some tattoo shops like they’re just getting you in and out, and you might be afraid to say what you want. We might give you some artistic direction, but anyone can come in and ask for what they want,” he said.

DBG Western Wear, at 126 E. Main St., is trying to offer something a little different than your mom’s western clothes, said owner Gaby Turcios.

“It’s more modern, more Tejano. The only stores we have here are Boot Barn and the Grange. I love both, but they mostly have things you would wear to do farm work. Not everyone wants to wear that to a concert or for going out,” she said.

The store offers the more multicultural and updated version of Western-inspired fashions for the whole family, she said.

As for her location downtown, the only problem she’s encountered is trying to match foot traffic to what she offers.

“A lot of customers come in and say, ‘Oh, my granddaughter would love this store,’” she said.

At Urban Glow boutique and beauty bar, 110 E. Sixth St., owner McKenna Dismukes said she wanted to offer something new for beauty in the valley.

She and four licensed estheticians offer a variety of services, from lashes to bridal makeup and microblading (cosmetic tattooing).

“I want each one to have their own independence but thrive under the umbrella of the store,” she said.

In the front of the store, Dismukes offers clothing she described as neutral pieces and mom apparel.

“I wanted to curate things that aren’t really seen in the area,” she said.

In the area where her business is located, she said she feels lucky.

“I feel like we got lucky with a great space. We have great neighbors and no homeless problems. I feel like this is the beginning of downtown really coming back.”

The fifth new business to open recently is Milk & Peonies Luxe Photography, at 225 E. Main St., Suite 210. Photographer Taylor Marie offers a range of options including milk bath photography, senior portraits, head shots for businesses, boudoir photography and weddings. She also offers branding services for local businesses, according to a post from the Downtown Medford Association.