By the Village Mouse | Special to the Courier

I hope you all saw “Widow Clicquot,” which was showing recently at our beloved Laemmle Claremont 5 theater. It is a compelling story of an 18th century innovator who took over her husband’s Champagne business, finally becoming one of France’s first celebrated female entrepreneurs. This leads me to today, as I’m excited to delve into a topic on my mind: girl bosses!

Pizza N’ Such is a good place to start. Opened 45 years ago by her parents, Mike and Sue Verbal, Laura Verbal continues the family legacy. Her mother had pizza training when she worked for Little Caesar’s in Detroit, where she grew up. Laura is a Scripps graduate who grew up in the business. The year she graduated from Claremont High, Pizza N’ Such quadrupled in size. From the beginning, she was all hands on deck, learning the business and seeing our community support firsthand.

Then during COVID-19, Laura was called upon to assume greater responsibility and partnership with the establishment. “I was not ready to let go of my parents’ legacy and what I like to think as a pillar of history in the community,” Laura said. “We had just lost Barbara Cheatley’s shop and Rhino Records on our block alone.”  So she became a partner with her parents. She’s excited to see families grow up and then come back with their own families. Laura loves walking down Yale Avenue to work and waving to the other business owners, like Jolene Gonzales from Bert and Rocky’s. Jolene was a high school friend, and their dads were also friends in high school. Laura loves owning a business in Claremont because of her community, which she affirms, cares about and respects small businesses.

The next female-operated business is newer: The Local Collective Market. Owners Ariel Goode and Jennifer Bradford are women of color who have been here for more than two years. They have put in a lot of hard work and admit to “wearing many hats.” Jennifer told me they are setting out to build their own legacy in an atmosphere of “community, not competition.” They provide space and support for a collective of local crafters that pop up every Sunday in their magical alley for an interactive experience. For instance, one Sunday I took a free yoga class and enjoyed some yummy food and beverages. During the week, their charming cottage-like 1938 space provides the perfect backdrop for their eclectic, artisan jewelry, handbags, herbs and apothecary, homemade dog treats, and so much more. They shine a light on independent designers and create a space for minorities, LGBTQ+ vendors, and consumers. They want to, in their words, “provide a safe place for women of color,” both for their artists and patrons.

Whether businesses have been here for 45 years or almost three, the owners chose Claremont for its unique charm, vibrant community, and the opportunity to offer something distinct that other cities cannot.

As you might have surmised, my goal has always been to promote small businesses but, more importantly, to change people’s mindsets so that they realize the importance of shopping locally. With this in mind, the next woman to which I want to pay tribute is Bevin Handel, Claremont’s public information officer in the city manager’s office.

Bevin is a joy to talk to and possesses a wealth of information. She enthusiastically supports small businesses and does everything possible to bring about change, reconciliation, and advocacy.

Bevin wants Claremont residents to know that 1% of locally collected sales tax dollars go back into the community. So when you purchase an item at a Claremont shop you are helping a small business and supporting city services and programs. The city uses sales tax revenue to fund police services, recreation and park programming, assistance programs, city beautification projects, and more. Shopping local is a “force multiplier” with many benefits beyond the initial purchase.

For businesses just starting out, and for those that have been here long, we say, cheers! Keep up the good work! So, as I bid you farewell until August, I’ll leave you with a quote from “The Widow Clicquot”: “A toast to the power of women! Success is not defined by what we accumulate, but by the legacy we leave behind.”