Grand opening celebrations held for two new Jarvis Street businesses

About 180 businesses have opened in Greater Fort Erie since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and two more on Jarvis Street are part of that growing number.

Tito’s Pizza and Lash + HeadSpa Suite welcomed local dignitaries to their respective grand opening celebrations on Thursday, including Mayor Wayne Redekop, Ward 1 Councillor George McDermott, Regional Councillor Tom Insinna, MP Fred Davies, MPP Wayne Gates, and town staff.

Davies, who was elected to serve the new Niagara South riding in late April, pointed out that Thursday’s events were the fifth and sixth grand openings he has attended since the election.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that,” he said, referring to a small town like Fort Erie attracting new businesses so rapidly, also congratulating the municipality for being so appealing.

At Lash + HeadSpa Suite, mother-daughter combo April Schirmer and Makayla Goodman are thrilled to become part of the community, moving from a space they had within another business in Port Colborne.

“We are excited to be in Fort Erie, and we love this street,” said Schirmer.

Schirmer told Fort Erie Radio in an interview before the ribbon was cut in front of their location at 25 Jarvis Street that her side of the operation, Halo Haven HeadSpa, specializes in mixed massages and aromatherapy.

Goodman, 19 years old, has been working in the beauty industry for three years, and specializes in lashes, tooth gems, and brows, she said.

Lash + HeadSpa Suite has been open for about a month, which is the same for Tito’s, a new pizza joint located at 95 Jarvis Street, formerly home to The Baking Bar.

Tito’s is a franchise and the one celebrating its grand opening on Thursday is the 51st location in the province.

There is another in Crystal Beach on Erie Road, part of the same chain, but operated by a different owner, explained Pritul Patel, the owner of the Jarvis Street spot, when chatting with Fort Erie Radio.

He said business has been “really good” since they started serving pizza, wings, and other sides about a month ago.

Speaking about the wave of new shops, restaurants, and stores opening in town, Redekop admitted that between 20 and 30 have not survived, and that small business comes with “a lot of headaches.”

But the influx of options in Fort Erie wouldn’t be possible without people rolling the dice and taking a risk by pursuing something they love.

“It’s all because of individuals who have this entrepreneurial spirit,” said the mayor at the Lash + HeadSpa Suite grand opening, the first of the two on Thursday.

He also wished both businesses luck and said the town will be available to assist them in any way they can.

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