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OHIO NEWS
New businesses open in downtown Ironton
Danielle Kouns is the owner of The Pale Horse, a vintage clothing and accessories store at 208 S. 3rd St., Ironton. ItÕs one of two new stores that recently opened as business owners are putting their faith in the downtown business potential. The other business is Family Time Video and More, located at 210 S. 3rd St.
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IRONTON -- There are fewer vacant downtown store fronts after several local residents opened niche businesses in downtown Ironton about a month ago.
Danielle Kouns opened The Pale Horse, a vintage clothing store at 208 S. 3rd St. on the same day Matthew Matney opened Family Time Video and More next door at 210 S. 3rd St.
"We had a program last winter, a six-week class about new business start-ups. Kouns was among those taking the course," said Mayor Rich Blankenship.
"We're glad she opened a business downtown," Blankenship said Monday. "We'd like to see more of these types of niche businesses open downtown. We'd like to see more traffic downtown. I think there are a lot of opportunities."
Kouns, an Ironton area resident, moved to the area two and a half years ago when she married Zachary Kouns. In addition to vintage clothing from the 1970s and 1980s, she has a number of items she made herself.
"I've never had a downtown business before," Kouns said. "We have three nice restaurants. Hopefully, that will generate more downtown foot traffic. We need more businesses downtown. I think there's a lot of potential downtown."
"I do take a little bit of consignment, but most of it I just get treasure hunting at estate sales or rummage sales," Kouns said." Sometimes, I find things on the Internet. I would like to find more things from the 1950s and 1960s. I always gravitated to vintage styles even when I was in high school." Kouns said she also sells jewelry and crocheted items that she makes.
Kouns opened her business with her own funds, so it is a debt-free endeavor. She said she has been working 65 to 70 hours a week to get her business rolling, but sales have been slow so far.
"I want to see if this will work. I'd like this to be a success," she said. "I have to keep busy."
Kouns is planning some evening gatherings, hoping to start crafting circles at the store. She also is planning to start offering coffee and tea at the store.
The store is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Information about the store is available at www.myspace.com/palehorsevintage.
Matney, a supervisor at Liebert's in Ironton, has 2,500 movies at Family Time Video and More. He and his wife, Marilyn, work at the store, which is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.
"We're renting them for $2 for two nights including new releases," the Rock Hill High School graduate said.
"It's a second job for me," he said. "We haven't done any advertising, but we put some fliers out. We have 91 customers signed up so far."
