Downtown adds personal touch to new businesses
by MELISSA L. GAFFNEY, Staff Writer, The Courier, May 8
Posted:05/09/08

Five new businesses were welcomed to Keyport on Saturday, May 3, despite recent financial hardships felt across the nation.

The Keyport Business Alliance (KBA) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Double Barrel, Keyport Family Dental, Nichole’s Trenz Salon, Bayshore Tan and Family Dentist.

KBA President Art Olsen, Secretary Nina Jeandron, Treasurer Terry Musson and Community Service Coordinator Ed Burlew traversed West Front Street, and then some, to cut ribbons and welcome fresh faces to Downtown.

Councilmen John Kovacs, William Ortman, George Walling and Council President Joseph Sheridan, as well as Police Chief Tom Mitchell, were also on hand.

Jeandron said the ceremony is something Councilman Ezra Hill had requested. "It's a personal touch the borough adds," she said. "I haven't seen other towns do it in a while. For Keyport, this means that people still know us and still think we're a viable business community."

Gerard Ocello, the owner of Double Barrel, said he has been open since March 1. Ocello sells used and new motorcycle parts from his shop on West Front Street.

He said the shop specializes in vintage and hard-to-find parts, even selling them on the Internet to countries such as Japan, the U.K. and Spain. “I sell a little bit of everything,” Ocello explained. “It’s neat for a little guy like me to do international business with the help of Internet.”

Ocello said he has been tinkering with bikes for a long time and even taught adults how to ride when he was 15. “This started as a hobby and then grew,” Ocello said. “I also raced bikes for a while. I’ve grown to have a vast knowledge of parts.”

He noted Double Barrel also deals with consignment parts.

Ocello lives in Matawan but is not new to town, as he said he would come to Keyport on the weekends as a kid. “It’s a great town,” he said. “I used to live here, too.”  

Dr. David Azenheimer, of Keyport Family Dental on Main Street, said his practice was open under previous owners for about five years, but that he purchased and reopened it in September 2007.

Azenheimer said while he and his family live in Eatontown, they “lucked upon” the dental practice in Keyport. “I love the people here, everyone seems genuine,” he said. “This is a great community.”

Bayshore natives also opened shop in an adjacent storefront on West Front Street, Nichole’s Trenz Salon and Bayshore Tan.

Nichole Kalantsis of Nichole’s Trenz said the salon has been open for three years.

She said while she lives in Hazlet now, she grew up in Keyport. “I love the water, and I knew I wanted to be by the water,” Kalantsis said.

Because the salon has been open for three years, Kalantsis said it has been nice getting to know the residents. “It’s good to see them coming in and out,” she said. “The residents are very supportive and business is good.”

Next door is Bayshore Tan, featuring six tanning beds, including one stand-up bed.

Even though owner Kathy O’Dwyer was out of town, that fact did not stop her family from manning the store. Parents Mike and Fran O’Dwyer said they help out when their daughter cannot be at the tanning salon. Family members Jessica O’Dwyer, Christine Shaver and Alisha Raupp were also on hand.

The O’Dwyers are Keyport residents and grew up in town. “We’ve lived here for 41 years,” said Fran.

Mike said the salon has been open since Feb. 8 and that it is a dream of his daughter’s. “[Kathy] has always wanted to [open her own place],” he said. “She managed a salon for eight years and got the bug. Hopefully this will work out.”

Jeandron said the KBA wants the same for all the businesses. "We want them to be successful," she said. "The KBA's hope is that [businesses] become active with us and work with us to make the town even stronger."

To learn more about the KBA, visit its Web site at: www.KeyportKBA.com.
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