NEWS

This time last year, a bakery and café, a pet boutique, a village blacksmith, a massage studio and a kitchen with a juice bar became the newest business residents along Main Street in the Gloucester Village thanks to the county’s most successful entrepreneur contest – Launch Gloucester.

Starting this weekend, those businesses will celebrate their first year of business with a series of events, promotions and giveaways.

Sweet Tooth Café & Bakery

6655 Main Street

Saturday, Sept. 24

First 50 customers will receive a free cupcake of their choice.
Cupcake coloring contest for children 10 and under. Winner will be selected Sept. 30. Their picture will hang in the café for one month and they will win a four-count box of cupcakes.
10 a.m. to noon: balloon and face painting
3 p.m.: pie-eating contest. The person who eats their first pie wins a four-count box of cupcakes.
Throughout the Week

For every $25 spent, customer name will go into a raffle for a chance to win a door prize. Winner will be selected Sept. 30.
The Nines Pet Boutique

6582 Main Street

Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday, Sept. 25

Raffles for a leather collar and pet photography session.
Giveaways and celebration “birthday” cake for pet lover and pets themselves.
Sales, to include 50 percent off all bedding and carriers and 30 percent off remaining summer items.
Chance to win 10 to 30 percent off any item purchased.
Sept. 27-30

Sales, to include 20 percent off t-shirts and 20 percent off pet ice cream.
Good Life Kitchen

6558 Main Street

Friday, Sept. 23 and Saturday, Sept. 24

Healthy Party Foods Sample Party
Tuesday, Sept. 27

Bring a friend to lunch day and both will be entered to win a $25 gift certificate.
Throughout the Week

Stay tuned to Good Life Kitchen on Facebook for a contest to win a free cooking class in October.
The Village Blacksmith

6641 Gloucester Street

Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday, Sept. 25

Tours of the blacksmith shop that include forging demos.
Heart Felt Touch Massage

7282 York Ave.

Throughout the Week

Schedule with four different practitioners and receive your fifth service free. The goal is to allow new clients to find the practitioner that’s right for them.

Sponsored by Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Launch Gloucester awarded the winning businesses $95,000 in goods and services and start-up capital to open up on Main Street. It was one of three in the state as part of the Community Business Launch initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and locally overseen by the Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust and Gloucester Main Street Association. Additional funding, support and value of the program in Gloucester came thanks to regional business support, the Gloucester Board of Supervisors, the Gloucester Economic Development Authority and the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce.

As part of the terms of the competition, the businesses were required to open in September, thus the exciting flurry of new businesses cutting ribbons exactly one year ago this month.