Stay up-to-date on what’s coming, going, and changing in the Northside business community with The Northside Chronicle’s monthly Northside Business Briefs. This month’s briefs feature Priory Fine Pastries and Prantl’s Bakery, Ambiance Hair & Nail Gallery, Bocadillos Bar, Little House Big Art, Threadbare Cider House, and Bistro To Go.

By Ashlee Green

Photo: Inside the new Northside Prantl’s Bakery, in the former Priory Fine Pastries location on East Ohio Street. By Randy Strothman

Priory Fine Pastries passes baton to Prantl’s Bakery

“Trepidation.” 

That’s been the prevailing emotion as Prantl’s takes over the former Priory Fine Pastries on East Ohio Street, according to Priory Hospitality Group Owner John Graf. But, he said, there’s excitement too.

The sale closed on Aug. 1, and Prantl’s, Graf said, came into the space the next day.

“[The Prantl’s] inclination was to not make a particularly big deal about it,” Graf said in a phone interview. ”I think they just wanted to get their sea legs and give people a feeling that it was business as usual. In a lot of senses, it was, kind of, mission accomplished.”

Graf said operating the bakery was labor intensive, and “definitely not a core competency of ours.” He made a strategic decision to prioritize his investments in the Priory Hotel and Grand Hall, currently undergoing major renovations, the Northside’s Comfort Inn & Suites, and Shadyside’s Mansions on Fifth, which all suffered due to reduced travel during the pandemic.

Still, Priory Fine Pastries has been owned by the Graf family since 2005. Graf, whose mother died in 2014, said for him, personally, the sale was bittersweet. 

“My mom and dad had founded it because they thought that the business district needed a bakery, so they started one up,” he said. “There are a lot of [my mom’s] fingerprints on that.”

Graf explained that it was important to him to keep the bakery storefront open, and to retain all of its staff members. Ultimately, he said, Prantl’s taking over is a good thing.

“I hope the community appreciates it and that we get a long-time dedicated presence there on East Ohio Street.” 

As for the Priory Hospitality Group as a whole, Graf assured the public that no other major changes are afoot.

“We’ve tweaked a couple things, but we’re here to stay.”

Ambiance Hair & Nail Gallery celebrates 10 years

Ambiance Hair & Nail Gallery, located at 1231 Federal St., is celebrating 10 years in the Northside. 

Ambiance, owned by Jeremey Johnson and Edgar Jackson Jr., is a full-service salon offering hair and nail services, eyelash extensions, eyebrow waxing, makeup application, and facials. To mark the business’ anniversary, salon staff gave out t-shirts, champagne, and pins to customers. 

Jackson told The Northside Chronicle in a phone interview that Ambiance has had the same clientele for the last decade.

“Our clients and employees have been very faithful and loyal to us,” Jackson said. “We just wanted to show our appreciation for our clientele and for the people in the community for keeping us [here] for so long.”

Bocadillos Bar opens in Marshall-Shadeland

Bocadillos Bar, owned by Bulgarian-born Tzveti Gintcheva, is the hip new place for craft cocktails and appetizer plates in the Northside. It’s grand opening took place in November.

Appetizer plates feature various ingredients from regions around the world; Gintcheva carries exclusively local spirits and craft beer as well as her own homemade wine to pair them with.

Hours of operation for Bocadillos, at the time of printing, are weekdays from 6 to 11 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome and no reservations are needed.

Bocadillos is located at 2827 California Ave.

Little House Big Art teams up with Threadbare Cider House for ‘Paint Your Own Pottery Night’

Spring Hill’s Little House Big Art (LHBA) joined forces with Threadbare Cider House in Spring Garden for two evenings full of pottery art making in December.

On Dec. 1 and 8, 2021, guests glazed their own ceramic mugs in a community crafting workshop called “Paint Your Own Pottery Night” at Threadbare. They each received their choice of a cider pour as well. Glazed mugs were fired inside LHBA’s kiln and ready for pickup at the Cider House the following week.

“Keep a lookout for ongoing ceramic + cider nights,” read an Instagram post from LHBA after the events.

Bistro To Go rethinking café’s vision

It’s time for a change at the Bistro To Go Café on East Ohio Street.

The café opened in 2007 and, as a strategic business move, evolved “to sustain the early days” with Bistro Catering.

Now, catering and event planning—which is operating as usual, 24/7— is what’s keeping the business stable, and owner Nikki Heckman is bidding farewell to the original vision for the café.

“Today as I look at our successes and challenges, I know it is time to refresh, renew and reengage,” reads a Dec. 13 post by Heckman on the Bistro To Go Facebook page. “This winter season will be a time for us to rethink our vision and what our new ‘spring’ will look like at 415 East Ohio Street.”

The post noted the important role community collaboration played in Bistro To Go’s beginnings and urged followers to make suggestions on what they’d like to see the café become. 

“I know it’s still my passion and calling to be a place where you can feel at home with heart and soul,” Heckman wrote. “…that calls people together around a table full of food and conversation.”