Downtown Taft is holding up against a not very business friendly economy that has seen many businesses open, and some close. For the most part, Center Street in Downtown Taft is holding its own in an economy that has seen Kern County, California and the whole country reeling from the recession and high unemployment. Here are a few business owners and their thoughts about having a business in downtown Taft.

Personal Style Salon and Boutique

Vickie Gregory has served the people of Taft for 32 years, the last five of which have been spent at her salon and boutique, Personal Style and more recently, her children's shop, Kids Stop.
The salon and shop owner is planning to expand her beauty and fashion empire down the 400 block of Center St. "Opening the walls in the boutique and kid's shop will make it much more convenient for our shoppers," she said. "I will be able to oversee both businesses better under one roof."
Although Gregory is says her goal is to serve Taft, her outlook on the downtown area is bleak. "Center Street looks rundown in areas and people might feel more comfortable coming to shop if it was cleaned up and had a better atmosphere," she said.
However, she still encourages people to shop local. "Taft people need to come out and see what's on Center Street and in Taft," she said. "They need to give us a chance before they head to Bakersfield, you might be surprised with what you find."


Jack's Flower Shop

Not only is Jack's Flower Shop a staple in the business collective of Center St., it's also a trademark floral shop in Taft after having been in business for more than half a century.
Owner, Debbie Turner, has taken care of the shop for over two decades and provides floral arrangements for all occasions as well as a delivery service and various gift items in the store for her customers. "I always try to buy new and different things to see what people want," she said. "I will go out of my way to accommodate my customers. If you don't see what you need, just ask!"
In the face of businesses closing on Center St., Turner emphasizes the importance of shopping local. "The best thing is to give the businesses a try ," she said. "You can't judge a place if you have never tried to go in or even if you have only been in once."
Even with stores disappearing and the weakened economy, Turner remains optimistic about business. "We will survive with our faithful customers and Taft will survive, too."

Taft Stork Club

Lucette Bottomly is regretfully closing the doors of the Stork Club after being in business only six months.
Bottomly opened the store completely on her own and without the aid of grants or loans. "I just bit the bullet," she said. "I told myself that if you don't do this now, you never will."
She made the decision to open the second hand store for baby accoutrements after helping her daughter find various baby items and clothes on eBay and Craigslist. She wanted to have a place that would provide inexpensive and clean, gently used baby items for those in need.
The former teacher took great pride in the quality of the provisions she offered but people began to take advantage of her generosity. "It's one thing to be struggling but it's another to be taken advantage of," she said.
Bottomly feels disenchanted by the direction her effort has taken. "I'm riding a dead horse here," she explained. "The horse died, I just forgot to get off."
Not only is she disappointed by those who took advantage of her but she also feels let down by the lack of support from the Chamber of Commerce. "The facade about keeping dollars and money [in Taft] is just a hoax," she said. "It's just a slogan on the Chamber sign. It's a sign and that's all it is."

Acme Jewelry

Ray and Donna Smith have been running Acme Jewelry since 1991, providing the gold, silver and platinum needs for the people of Taft. Although the price of gold and silver are on the rise, the Smiths do not feel disillusioned. "We have to adjust to the changing times," Ray said. "And if jewelry is too much for our customers we carry gift items."
Despite the discouraging and radical change in the economy, Ray and Donna remain dedicated to their clientele. "We are adapting to what the customers want and need," Ray said. "We always offer a personal service to our customers."
However, the downturn in the economy is not the only change the Smiths have taken note of. The jewelers see a shift in the city's interest from Center St. to the Rails to Trails area. "The Rails to Trails is great but what about Center Street? This is the historical area of Taft and it needs to be cleaned up."

G.S. Graphix and Hobbies

G.S. Graphix and Hobbies owners, Brandon Farkas and Allen Jones, recognize the importance of Taft's historical downtown area. With their plans to move and expand their business, they hope their actions will encourage other Center St. businesses to spruce up their storefronts. "This downtown does not need another vacant or empty building on Center Street," Farkas said. "There are still people and businesses that want to make Taft a better place."
Farkas and Jones are set to move their store into (Tasco Building address). "We are going to fix all the windows and the storefront before we even open our new location," Farkas said.
Along with a more extensive stock for their current services, the new store will also offer screen printing. "We have wanted to expand for awhile," he explained. "And with the city offering grants it's the perfect time."

Big City Skate Park

Big City Skate Park will soon be joining the retail stores of Center St. Bakersfield based owners, Rick and Vonda Peralez, own an indoor skate park as well as a store in Bakersfield and another shop in Delano. "We see so many people coming from the surrounding communities to Bakersfield that we want to hit up all the small towns to open shops so the kids do not have to come to Bakersfield," Rick said.
Their latest addition, at 520 Center Street, will offer skating accessories and a place for kids to play X-Box and get out of the heat. "We are really pumped up about opening," the owner continued. "Everyone that has come by so far has had really positive things to say about us opening."
The Peralez's have even hired locally. "I hired a kid that comes to the park in Bakersfield all the time," Rick explained. "When we decided to open a shop in Taft I called him in to work for us."
As for the other skate shop opening around the corner, Rick said, "hopefully there is enough business for everyone so we can give the kids something to do."

KC Photography

KC Photography has been capturing attention on Center St. for 24 years. Over the years, owners, Karen and Robert Mitchell, have expanded their business, offering a wider variety of photo services including photo restoration and alterations, framing and professional photography for special occasions as well as a great gift shop. "We have stayed for so many years because we diversify our business," Karen said. "Offering personal services as well as items to buy in the store has given us a great balance."
To help encompass their ever-expanding photo business, they are continuing to remodel and install different features in order to provide optimum customer care. "We like what we are doing and we sacrifice for what we do, we like the people in taft and we like being in Taft."

Ultimate Lady/Today's Woman

Center Street's gym designed for women is once again going through a complete make-over. Ultimate Lady owner, Louise Gibby, has been running the gym since she bought it two years ago.
Now, Gibby is passing the ownership of the facility to ambitious nail technician, Martha Dabbs. "I wanted to buy the gym originally two years ago when it was for sale," she said. "But now is a better time and I know we can bring it up and make it better to serve the women of Taft."
Dabbs plans to revamp the gym, starting with a name change. Along with providing a comfortable environment to work out in, Today's Woman will offer tanning and massage services. The new owner also plans to carry cosmetics and hair products.
The hours of operation for Today's Woman will differ from those of Ultimate Lady and will eventually include weekend hours. Despite all the change, Dabbs has in store for the gym, the prices under Gibby's ownership will stay in place.

Edward J. Herrera Insurance

Another new addition to the businesses of downtown Taft is Edward J. Herrera Insurance. "We are very excited to be on Center Street," owner Ed Herrera said.
The newcomer to Center St. aims to help cater to the Mexican populace of Taft. "There is a large Hispanic population in Taft," he explained. "We hope that we can help serve that demographic."


Crystal Lee's Clothing

Crystal Lee's Clothing has been helping fashionably clothe the citizens of Taft for three years and now she will be closing her Center St. storefront, however she will not be going out of business completely.
For now, owner, Crystal Curtis, will take her show on the road to various events like car shows, festivals and the like. "It's fun for me," she said. "I like going to those events and being in that atmosphere."
Even though she will no longer have a business on Center St., you can still catch her set up once a month a Magic Touch. She will also be available for in-home purse parties.
Curtis is thankful for her loyal fans. "I couldn't have made it this far without them."

Used to Be Paul's Bike Shop

Just as this veteran business was on the brink of closing for good, Taft College professor, David Layne, came in to rescue the bike shop from extinction.
Like most businesses on Center St., Layne's store suffered at the hands of the economic tank. The professor, like other local business owners, found a way to adapt to his customers' needs. "We started to carry skate supplies to meet the needs of the kids in town so the parents don't have to go to Bakersfield," he said.
Layne said he realizes that he is peddling a non-essential and sometimes expensive product but, "We are more focused on the training rather than the profit," he explained. "Our business is here for the kids in town."
Although Used to Be Paul's Bike Shop will soon be facing competition with the arrival of two new skate shops to the downtown area, Layne isn't worried. "Competition is good for the consumers," he said. "If I can make my rent each month I'm happy and I will keep the doors open. I love Center Street, and I love having the shop here."

Miller's Beauty Supply

It has been 14 years since Miller's Beauty Supply celebrated their grand opening and the salon, supply and boutique is still going strong where it sits next to the Fox Theater. "It was rather exciting that we had a beauty supply in Taft because we'd never had one before," said owner and beautician, Barbara Van Pelt.
Van Pelt has always loved being on Center St. and is excited to welcome new businesses to the neighborhood. "The Independent has started renovations which make you feel like you would like to put a little effort to make your place look better, too," she said.
For this business owner, her membership with the Chamber of Commerce has helped her business in a variety of ways. In the past they've sent me clients, they've had me participate in different events that brought clients into the salon," she explained. "I really couldn't imagine being a business owner and not being a member of the Chamber of Commerce."
However, she still has some concerns with where the Chamber has focused their attention. "[They're] putting all of their effort into the Rails to Trails and not enough into making the face of Taft look better," she said. "Our downtown area has a lot of buildings that aren't in very good shape and I'd like to see them cleaned up."
Van Pelt sees potential in downtown Taft and that makes her hopeful for the future of Center St. and the town she loves to live and work in. "I couldn't imagine owning a business anywhere else."

CDBG Enterprise Fund Grant

The City recently received a $300,000 federal grant called a CDBG Enterprise Fund Grant. The grant is a part of a program designed to help local businesses improve their storefronts. Since the money is part of a grant, business owners do not have to repay any money provided by the fund and any business can take part as long as the money is still available.
The CDBG grant provides the perfect opportunity for all businesses to help revive Taft's historic downtown. City employee, Lucille Holt, remarked that this grant is the key to revitalizing the downtown areas of small towns. "This is the first step for Taft."
The city is still working on the application for building and business owners.