Small Business Saturday: Why Uptown Westerville Matters
This Is Uptown: Local Shops, Local Stories
Small Business Saturday is more than a shopping day in Uptown Westerville. It is a reminder of why this part of town feels special. Almost every store is a small business owned by people who live nearby, who work in their own shops, and who know their customers by name. These stores have helped shape Westerville from the beginning and continue to do so today.
When you walk through Uptown, you see all kinds of small businesses. One person runs some. Some are family shops that have been here for many years. Some are new businesses started by people trying something for the first time. Others have changed owners but kept the same spirit. A few have even grown into something bigger while still staying local.
One of the oldest examples is Talbott’s Flowers. Dave Talbott’s father opened the business in 1947. Dave was only three months old, so he always knew how old the shop was. The Talbotts added their Uptown location in 1963 and have stayed on State Street ever since. Buildings around them have changed many times, but the florist has stayed. Few businesses in Uptown come close to matching their history.
Uptown also has owners who have helped the area grow significantly. Tony and Amy Cabilovski are two of them. They own several Uptown businesses, including Westerville Grill, Uptown Deli and Brew, Edwin Loy Home, Stone and Sparrow, and the soon-to-open Little Sparrows Boutique. They also own the Corbin’s Saloon property, which gives them room to bring more ideas to life. Their success did not come from big investors. It came from believing in Uptown and putting in their own work.
A few blocks away, Megan Ada is doing the same. She recently opened Ampersand Asian Supper Club near her first Uptown restaurant, Asterisk Supper Club. Both places use symbols for their names, a fun connection she planned on purpose. After opening the new Ampersand in Westerville, she closed her older Short North restaurant to focus entirely on Uptown. She also sold Sunny Street Café, her first Westerville business, to the nephew of her longtime hostess. The hostess still works at both Sunny Street and Asterisk, keeping the connection strong. For Megan, growing her business means staying rooted.
Many new businesses start in small, hidden spots before growing into bigger ones. That is what happened with Pure Roots. When Nicole Harrison opened her shop, she started in a tiny side street space. The person who rented the space before her, Amy Cabilovski, had been there for only 9 months before moving Edwin Loy Home to a bigger spot on State Street. On Nicole’s first day, Amy wished her luck and joked that she would move in nine months too. Nicole didn’t believe it, but it happened. Pure Roots moved onto State Street almost exactly nine months later. Now, Nicole is planning how to use her space more effectively so she can support even more local makers.
Uptown is also home to long-time businesses that have changed and grown over the years. Amish Originals Furniture is one of them. It first opened inside the old State Theatre building, right in the heart of Uptown. Later, it moved one block north into a larger two-story storefront. The shop continues to thrive there today, showing how steady growth can come from staying connected to the neighborhood.
Another essential part of Uptown’s story is Schneider’s Bakery, a true landmark. It began in 1954, when brothers Carl and Floyd Schneider opened the bakery in the basement of a grocery store. In 1957, they moved the bakery to its current home at 6 South State Street. In 1987, ownership passed to Jeff Hamler, who had worked there since 1974. When he retired in 2017, he sold the bakery to Shaun and Manu Stonerook.
Shaun Stonerook grew up in Westerville. After playing college and professional basketball, he returned home to keep Schneider’s traditions alive.
Just down the street is another longtime favorite: the Uptown Dairy Queen. The D’Andrea family opened it in 1978. In 2018, they celebrated 40 years in business. As of 2025, the Uptown Dairy Queen is 47 years old. It is one of the most recognizable spots in Uptown, especially in the summer when families line up for cones, Blizzards, and sundaes.
Another shop with strong family roots is A Gal Named Cinda Lou. A retired local schoolteacher opened it and is now run by her daughter. The store sits at 20 North State Street and feels like a step back in time. It specializes in fun items from the 1950s through the 1970s, including mid-century modern furniture, vintage clothes, jewelry, vinyl records, and quirky gifts. The shop also sells handmade items from local artists. Its bright colors and playful style make it one of Uptown’s happiest places to visit.
Some Uptown businesses also honor the history of their buildings. Birdie Books is one of them. When owner Shari Russell took over the property on North State Street, she learned that the building once held Culver Art and Frame, one of Uptown’s earliest shops. She wanted to bring back that look. After months of research and several meetings with the Uptown Review Board, she received permission to restore the building’s front to its former appearance. Today, Birdie Books is a warm, welcoming independent bookstore that celebrates both reading and the history of the space it calls home.
Some small businesses stay small but last because the owners never give up. Old Skool Skateshop is one of those places. Wally Carl opened Old Skool almost 25 years ago, when central Ohio had several skate shops. Most of those shops are gone now. Only two remain: Embassy in Clintonville and Old Skool in Westerville. Wally kept his shop going by working nights, delivering pizzas, and taking other jobs to pay the bills. Old Skool is now a place where skaters of all ages hang out, talk, and find the gear they need.
Uptown is filled with stories like these. Some businesses started in tiny rooms before growing into well-known storefronts. Some took over spaces once used by national chains that didn’t last because they didn’t understand what Westerville wanted. Local owners did. That is why they stayed.
Small Business Saturday comes at an important time. Next year, the city will begin a big project to add more parking, move power lines underground, and make Uptown more walkable. These changes will make Uptown easier to visit while keeping its charm. When the work is done, the small businesses that make Uptown special will still be there.
Small Business Saturday is a chance to thank the people who keep Uptown running. Every store has a story. Every owner has put in real work. And every visit helps protect the spirit that has shaped Uptown Westerville for generations.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
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Gary, thank you for this factually informative travelog through Uptown. It is refreshing and affirming to read of the commitment these businesses have made to this great community.
Love reading the history of many of the small business owners. Westerville is such a special place and I appreciate all you do to share the photos, stories and history of our community!