Here’s To Fine Spirits 

Winter Park’s Paul Twyford and Andrew Asher felt their city really needed its own brand of locally made, quality-distilled spirits reflective of the city’s history and character. Out of this desire has sprung The Winter Park Distilling Company, the first artisanal distillery in Central Florida. The company produces Bear Gully Classic Clear Corn Whisky and Genius Fine Vodka. 

“Bear Gully Classic and Genius have both enjoyed success since going to market this past spring,” says Asher. “That success has come from the public’s growing thirst for local products made with quality ingredients.” According to the company its spirits may be found at local ABC Fine Wine & Spirit, stores throughout the state and at a number of local restaurants, including Jack’s Steakhouse in Baldwin Park and the Ravenous Pig in Winter Park. 

Twyford expects even more success in the future. “We are currently experimenting with some fantastic rum recipes that I’m really excited about,” he says. “Accordingly, we hope to unveil a new rum label here in the next couple months.”  The company also plans to have an aged whiskey batch ready for sale by the holiday season. See their Website/Facebook/Twitter for locations and updates on where they will be conducting tastings. 321.285.9492.   Twitter: @WPDCo. wpdistilling.com

 

Let Them Eat Cake

Fresh-from-the-oven, custom cake and cookie boutique The Flour Shop, 501 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 243, opened earlier this year in the Kmart shopping center at Lee Road and Orlando Avenue. Owner Janelle Weeden  traces her love of the cake business to her family roots. “During the Depression my grandmother and her sister would go around after school and sell goodies that their mother had made out of their wagon.” 

Combining her grandmother’s entrepreneurial spirit with the creative influence of her parents, who were both artists, she has been creating confectionery wonders since her kids were in grade school. The shop whips up custom wedding cakes, party cakes, corporate gifts, 3-D cake sculpting, cookies made from scratch, logo cookies and a line of cocktail cupcakes all for retail, wholesale and corporate customers. 

Working with clients to design unique themes, she strives to make each piece memorable. Recently she made a cake that resembled an actual-size electric guitar. She encourages anyone interested to stop by. “Our cake shop is interactive. We decorate our cakes and cookies in full view of our customers. So come on in, see us at work.” 407.599.2253. flourshop.net

 

Here’s A Photo Op

A classic boudoir photography studio has opened a new location in Hannibal Square. Owner Sara Nixon partnered with her mother, Peggy Nixon, to open their first studio in Sanford a year and a half ago.  They  decided to relocate the studio to Winter Park to provide a more central location for their clients. 

The well-appointed studio provides photographs that are sexy yet classy, and more importantly, fun, the owners say. “When our clients see their photos, it boosts confidence and makes them feel good about themselves,” says Sara Nixon. “There is so much self-loathing out there. We live in our bodies every day, we should love our bodies.” The studio offers several packages that include a three-hour in-studio photography session with hair and makeup preparation. 

It is a great gift idea, and you can also book a party for a group of friends at the studio. The Nixons say plans call for a road tour to Austin, Texas, Minneapolis, Tulsa and Las Vegas. Bon Bon Studios is located at 362 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 101.  407.480.6693. bonbonstudios.com

 

SHORT TAKES

• Phil Kean Designs won the 2011 Golden Aurora Award for its private residence in Winter Park named MIWA. Team Members included Phil Kean Designs; Evergreen Consulting; Cabinetry Creations, Inc.; CRT Studio, Inc. and Harvey Smith Photography. The 4,728-square-foot home recently sold for more than $3 million.  
• Eyes and Optics, an eye care boutique, is moving from Hannibal Square to its new location on Park Avenue, in the former Pam Abrams jewelry store located at 312 N. Park Ave. 407.644.5156. eyesoptics.com  
• RLF, a Winter Park-based architecture, engineering and interior design firm, has announced the addition of three new employees: Licensed architect Sam Sampoux, AIA,  mechanical engineer John Stellpflug, PE, and mechanical designer Daniel Chapman.
• The former Boathouse/Drake’s restaurant and bar, at 565 W. Fairbanks Ave., has redecorated and reopened as Harper’s Tavern, the namesake of an historical Winter Park pub. 407.513.4816.

MORE SHORT TAKES

• Anson-Stoner, a full-service Winter Park advertising and communications agency, earned four statewide awards at the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) 2011 Golden Image Awards. The agency’s Planet Fitness national social media campaign received a Golden Image Award and a Judges’ Award, which highlights a public relations program that achieved maximum impact on a tight budget. The team also earned a Judges’ Award for a Wekiva Island rezoning campaign and an Award of Distinction for Peter Island Resort & Spa’s coverage in the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. 407.629.9484.  anson-stoner.com 
• Doug Dikerson is the new owner of the Tennis Garage, a full-service auto repair facility with more than 50 years history in Winter Park. Sales were up more than 60 percent  in the first nine weeks after purchase, says Dickerson, who credits his initial success to aggressive marketing and exemplary detail to customer service such as pickup and drop-off service for his clients. Tennis Garage is at 1492 W. Fairbanks Ave. 407-629-1077.  theTennisGarage.com
• A new retail store, Rosey Wray’s Roost, is opening in Brandywine Square in the former Designer Outlet Boutique and Bridal location at 515 Park Ave. North, Suite 116. The  home-accent boutique offers unique, eclectic and affordable home accents and gifts. Mother and daughter team, Linda and Trina Spinelli, have owned other home décor shops in Georgia and are now bringing their retail expertise and attention to customer service, quality and value to Winter Park. 
• Peterbrooke Chocolatier in Winter Park is celebrating its 10-year anniversary on Park Avenue. The store is known for blending milk, dark and white chocolate and producing cordial cherries, buttery toffee, hand-made truffles and fresh-picked strawberries that are hand-dipped daily. Meanwhile, relative newcomer Bella Ella Salon and Day Spa is celebrating its first year on Morse Blvd and is in growth mode, reportedly recruiting a number of stylists from the recently closed Shades of Winter Park, formerly at 170 E. Morse Blvd. 
• Although overall Winter Park retail vacancy rates remain relatively low, several other retailers have left the market, including two retailers in Winter Park Village, Apples to Zinnias and Patchington. The Lululemon store currently on Orange Avenue also relocated its Winter Park store to the Mall of Millennia in September. 
• Other new businesses in the area include: Kyle P. King, Attorney at Law, attorney, 1800 Pembrook Drive, No. 300, Maitland, Sarah Shelton, attorney, 485 N. Keller Road, Suite 525, Maitland, Spa Buzz Inc., marketing, 668 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 108, Maitland, Winter Park Bonsai, plants, 1039 Braemar Drive, Winter Park, Legacy Ironworks Corp., welding, 2854 Forsyth Road, Suite 818, Winter Park, Unique Lawn Services, lawn maintenance, P.O. Box 947876, Maitland and Rick’s Dog Deli, 1421 Norfolk Ave., Winter Park.