While construction on the Mutual Building, announcements surrounding the Hotel Covington project, and the development of Gateway’s urban campus are making most of the noise in downtown Covington, one pair of small business owners are quietly working to renovate another historic building on Madison Avenue.
Earlier this year, Bree Singer and Shannon Smith purchased the property at 603 Madison Avenue and have spent the past several months working to convert the building into a mixed-use space that will house a fitness studio in the basement, a law office on the first floor, a commercial space on the second, and an apartment on the top floor.
Singer, an ACE certified personal trainer, is the owner of Body by Bree, a personal training company that offers one-on-one personal training, small group and sports team training and company wellness programs. Singer, who grew up in White Mills, Kentucky and graduated from Northern Kentucky University in May, says she has always wanted to help people and start her own business. She just didn’t expect to be doing both so soon after finishing school.
“I’ve known forever that I’ve always wanted to help people,” says Singer. “That’s all I’ve ever known. After graduation, I had the opportunity to open my own facility which was really the goal from the beginning. I just didn’t think it would happen so quickly. My goal is to create a community of wellness where we have healthy choices that are easily accessible. (Opening a business) is scary and it’s a lot of work, but at the end of the day if you’re willing to put in the work and it’s something you’re passionate about, why not go for it?”
Smith, an attorney specializing in estate planning and small business formation and planning, met Singer five years ago and after helping her start her business decided that opening her own practice was the best way to change people’s perceptions of lawyers. “I didn’t like the fact that attorneys have a bad name and didn’t want to be associated with that. One of the biggest complaints I hear is, ‘They never return my calls.’ That’s something I wanted to change. We’re a bit more customer service-oriented.”
Singer and Smith, who previously lived in Mainstrasse, say that the atmosphere and attitude of downtown Covington is what attracted them the most to Madison Avenue.
“Over here, it feels like that if you’re willing to get out there and talk to people, you can literally do anything,” said Smith. “Everyone at the city has been so helpful and so supportive and excited about everything that is going on. The location couldn’t be better.”
Singer agreed that the positive energy downtown is contagious. “When you interact with people that really want to make that change and you feel like they are passionate and have that energy and they believe it’s going to happen, it’s hard not to believe it yourself.”
The pair, which hopes to move into the building in the coming months, has been doing much of the work themselves and while they admit the renovation has taken a bit longer than they expected, they say they have really enjoyed the project.
“To have your hand on something and to be so involved in it is priceless,” said Singer.
“It’s been a long process but it has been fun,” said Smith. “I just can’t wait for it to be finished.”
As the revitalization of the urban core takes place around them and more start-ups and small businesses move into the city, Singer and Smith say they can’t help but get excited about the growth of Covington and hope others considering coming to Covington recognize the transformation that’s taking place.
To those considering opening a business here, “I’d say read the news, come into Blend and have some food, walk down the street and see what’s happening here. You’d have to be living under a rock not to see everything that’s going on,” said Smith.
“I’d ask, ‘Do you want to be a part of something that’s bigger than yourself?’ I think that’s what Covington is all about. Yes, I’m here growing my business but it’s not just for me, it’s not just about me. It’s about Covington and making this someplace really special.”
Story & photo by Jerod Theobald, Managing Editor of The River City News