9 of Our Favorite Small Business Stories: Year in Review

Several small businesses were in the limelight on North Canton Patch this year. As we near the end of the year, we thought we'd bring you a roundup of some of our favorite stories featuring the gems that make North Canton what it is.

Did we write about your favorite small business this year and it didn't make this list? Chime in in the comments section!

• ,  — Chestnut Hill is a great place to go for home accents. It's got a boutique-like vibe and a knowledgeable owner (Beth Bauman of Our Town newspaper) who's interested in helping you find just the right quirky piece for your home.

• Jojutlas Mexican Grill, 4934 Portage St.,  — VP of operations Gary Hulett opened the restaurant after a trip to Jojutla, Mexico, and vowed to incorporate the authentic tastes and atmosphere into his business. We'd say he hit the mark.

• ,  — We couldn't have had more fun interviewing a local restaurant owner than we did with Mama Guzzardi, also known as Katherine Spinelli. She's headed the restaurant with her son for 25 years and has watched it grow from a pizza shop to a restaurant with all the Italian staples.

• ,  — Patch contributor Pat Faulhaber had her choice of any job to feature in North Canton, and she decided Ashley Fockler's was the coolest. Fockler, the owner of B.A.M. Healthy Cuisine and a former personal trainer, said a passion for healthy food led her to opening the restaurant.

• Canterbury Spa, 3511 Orion St. NW,  — Owner Laura Lewis had her eye on the building that sits at Orion Street and Burkey Road for about two years and jumped at the chance to open her spa there. We talked with Lewis back in August and got a tour of the historic building.

• , — What does it take to keep a new business going? The folks at the Barrel Room should know a little bit about that. We checked in with them in February to wish them a happy 1-year birthday and .

• ,  — We featured one of North Canton residents' favorite restaurants with a video in July. Bartender Melissa Venditti shared with us why she gets dolled up in pearls and lipstick every night and what she loves about serving in the downstairs portion of the restaurant.

• ,  — The owners of Ermanno's Legendary Pizza are always trying to create the perfect pizza for their customers. Their desire to do so has led them to many competitions, including this one — the North American Pizza Competition. And they didn't do too shabby, either.

• ,  — Owned by Karla and John Miller, the shop offers guests a selection of gift items made by local artists, furniture on consignment and unusual crafted items by area artisans, ranging in styles from shabby chic to English country. It opened this summer.