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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 2015)
BUSINESS 4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015 Vaping store, lounge opens downtown By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian $Q\ QXPEHU RI HFOHFWLF ÀD vors — strawberry, cinnamon roll and the like — hit the nostrils walking into Columbia Vapes. But there’s no smoke or ash WUD\V DW WKH UHJLRQ¶V ¿UVW YDS ing lounge, recently opened in downtown Astoria. Vape is a colloquial term for vaporizing nicotine-infused liq- uid and the Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year for 2014. “This store exists because of my experience with vaping,” said Yolanda Wlodarski, adding that she’d tried everything to quit smoking, before starting to vape helped ween her off ciga- rettes completely more than a year ago. She, Tony Wlodarski and Al- len Estes opened the lounge and vaping shop earlier this month, tapping into a rising national trend and an increasingly popu- lar, albeit relatively unregulated, alternative to smoking. Behind the lounging area, vaping pen starter kits; custom- izable vaporizer pens, known as ³PRGV´E\D¿FLRQDGRVWREDFFR pipe-like vaporizers; and other variations line several display cases, along with tanks, mouth- pieces, cases and merchandise. An atomizer inside the mods heats the nicotine-infused liq- uids, turning them into a vapor that can be inhaled. ,QWKHEDFNDVKHOI¿OOHGZLWK small plastic vials of liquid offers PRUH WKDQ ÀDYRUV RI YDSLQJ liquids from Bellingham, Wash.- based Mount Baker Vapor, along ZLWKVHYHUDO³SUHPLXP´ÀDYRUV Vaping liquids typically include ZDWHUQLFRWLQHÀDYRULQJDQGHL ther a propylene glycol or vegeta- ble glycerin base. The containers each carry 15 milliliters of liquid, costing about $7 each. They also come in different strengths, from zero to 18 milligrams of nicotine per milliliter. The shop has stayed away from stronger liquids and mixing its own, said the owners, although it provides contacts for custom mixers. “A pack-a-day smoker could JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian Yolanda Wlodarski, left, and Allen Estes, right stand in their new store, Columbia Vape, Monday. JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian Yolanda Wlodarski shows off various mouthpieces that Columbia Vape carries in stock. probably vape for less than $20 a month,” said Yolanda Wlodar- ski, adding that for $30 or less, someone can buy all their equip- ment and a supply of liquid. In addition to a cost-savings, the owners see vaping as a via- ble cessation tool. After starting vaping at 18 milligrams per mil- liliter when she quit smoking more than a year ago, she said she’s down to 6 and hopes to be vaping with no nicotine by the end of the year. Estes said that after more than 50 years of cig- arettes, he’s cut his smoking in half since he started vaping. The owners said they don’t sell to minors, and they check the IDs of people coming in and ask unaccompanied minors to leave. They open at 11 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday at 1268 Commercial St. and can be found at www.facebook/colum- biavapes or at columbiavapes@ gmail.com New frontier Vaporizing products are not regulated by the more encom- passing age and indoor restric- tions or taxes facing traditional cigarettes. The Food and Drug Administration in April pro- posed a rule to extend its reg- ulatory authority to e-cigarette products. E-cigarettes and other va- ping products are prohibited on Clatsop County property, including the fairgrounds. The Astoria School District added e-cigarettes to its tobacco-free policy in April. In August 2012, Gov. John Kitzhaber signed an executive order prohibiting the use of to- bacco products, including e-cig- arettes, in state agency buildings and on state agency grounds. The Oregon Health Authority recommends that businesses and local jurisdictions prohibit their use. Various studies by the FDA and other groups have found elevated levels of various chem- icals and carcinogens, such as formaldehyde, in vapors from e-cigarettes. “It’s not a vapor,” said Ste- ven Blakesly, a health promo- tion specialist with the county. “It’s an aerosol. Vapor is water in gas form.” The Oregon Legislature held hearings a year ago on H.B. 4073, which would have extended the smoking ban for minors to e-cigarettes, and H.B. 4115, which would have done the same, while additionally in- cluding e-cigarettes in the state’s indoor smoking ban. Blakesly said the state is waiting to hear what the FDA decides before moving forward. BUSINESS BRIEFS Realtors announce top producers The Clatsop Association of Re- altors’ Multiple Listing Service has announced the 2014 Top Producers. They are: 1. Bree Phillips, ReMax River and Sea; 2. Barbara Maltman, Windermere Stellar; 3. Debra Bowe, Windermere Pacific Land; 4. Alaina Giguiere, ReMax Coastal Advantage; 5. Farzahn Kamali, Kamali Sotheby’s International; 6. Melissa Eddy, Wind- ermere Stellar; 7. Reet Vaga, Kamali Sotheby’s International; 8. Marianne Pittard, ReMax River and Sea; 9. Kate Merrill, Windermere Stellar; and 10. Sally Conrad, Kamali Sotheby’s Inter- national. Sherry Sopko at 503-440-6456 or nc- bia@msn.com Lead-based paint refresher class offered Feb. 10 12th man ice cream debuts at Frite & Scoop The North Coast Building Industry Association is offering a half-day morn- LQJ/HDG%DVHG3DLQW&HUWL¿HG5HQRYDWRU Refresher class Feb. 10 in Astoria. The FODVVLVUHTXLUHGIRUFHUWL¿FDWHUHQHZDO The cost is $150 for NCBIA members or $200 for non-members. Preregistra- tion is required, and the class is limited to 12 students. For information, contact Frite & Scoop, the gourmet ice cream parlor at 175 14th St., is making a Super %RZO ÀDYRU FDOOHG ³*R +DZNV´ WRGD\ through Sunday, available in scoops and SLQWV7KHÀDYRULQFOXGHVDOLPHFXUGLFH cream with a blueberry swirl. Frite & Scoop is open from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday. For PRUHLQIRUPDWLRQ¿QG)ULWH6FRRSRQ Facebook or at www.friteandscoop.com Clatsop County Property Transactions Seller: Clatsop County 6KHULII¶V2I¿FH Buyer: LPP Mortgage Ltd. Address: 32281 Hemlock Lane, Arch Cape Price: $1.3 million Seller: Leon Jackson Buyer: Bryan K. Kumm and Debra E. Kumm Address: 664 39th St. Price: $348,500 Sellers: Larry T. Poor, Stacey L. Brown and Mark Brown Buyer: Federal National Mortgage Association Address: 92904 Cherry Road, Astoria Price: $209,679 Seller: Clatsop County 6KHULII¶V2I¿FH Buyer: Nationstar Mort- gage, LLC Address: 36144 U.S. Highway 26, Seaside Price: $189,547 Making the Dollar INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES BY EDWARD STRATTON Liza Gibbons, owner Raqad Fitness, LLC 3470 U.S. Highway 101 Gearhart Liza Gibbons’ Raqad Fitness takes its name from the Hebrew verb “to stamp, spring about wildly or for joy, dance, jump, leap, skip.” The wife of U.S. Coast Guardsman, she started her company when they were living in Washington, D.C., but has been operating it for two years in Gearhart and now includes morning and evening classes taught by four instructors, in- cluding herself. Raqad is getting ready to move, albe- it within a few miles of her current location, she said. Find Raqad Fitness’ rates, schedule and other infor- mation at www.raqadfitness.com and on Facebook. How would describe your business? “Raqad Fitness is kind of a unique model we have. We’re family friendly, first of all. Kids are welcome to come in and hang out and wait while their moms are working out. My background is public health educa- tion, and I’m a health education specialist. After being a stay-at-home mom for a long time … starting this felt very similar in many ways. I try to keep it affordable so that women can come back and make fitness a part of their life, not just something they do occasionally.” How did you get into this business? “I started Raqad Fitness when we were in D.C. (in 2009). It looked a little different than this. I didn’t have my own studio. I rented space in dance studios, just a class here, a class there. When I moved here, I wanted to do the same thing. After a while, I found out through a friend that they were renting this old space, which was previously Gearhart Workout. I told my husband ‘what do you think about this; do you mind? What if no one comes?’ Because I didn’t do any advertising. He said ‘well I’m going to invest in you, and I just want to support you.’ We put up all the money upfront to get started, and he said ‘I have enough for you to continue for a year, even if no one comes.’ I did the first week of free classes, and I only offered four classes a week when we started, and they were packed full of ladies.” Who is your usual clientele? “What I love about what we’ve created here is that there is no usual clientele. We’ve really just kind of broke through the walls of who comes here. Do we have moms that drive Mercedes and Porsches? Yes. Are there lawyers’ wives and doctors’ wives and busi- ness owners? Yes. But we also have a whole range of people. And I’ll take people who are like ‘Look, I can’t afford to come, but I can’t afford to go.’ And I work with those people on like a plan that they can afford, just so they can come and benefit.” Seller: Macdonald Farm, LLC Buyers: Michael V. Cropp and Susan C. Cropp Address: 719 5th Ave., Hammond Price: $290,000 Sellers: Darryl Tucker and Julie Tucker Buyers: Kasey T. Vu and Lauren P. Cai Address: 2420 S. Edge- wood St., Seaside Price: $260,500 EDWARD STRATTON — The Daily Astorian Liza Gibbons runs Raqad Fitness in Gearhart. Submitted photo Olynxa Levy cuts hair and shaves faces at Oly’s Barber Shop in Uppertown. Barber brings 30-year history to Oly’s By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Olynxa Levy, a barber for 30 years and proprietor of the recently opened Oly’s Barber Shop, describes her- self as a tomboy. She said she doesn’t re- ally cut women’s hair. “I’ve always worked in a barber- shop. Put me in a salon, and I probably wouldn’t know what to do.” Her barbershop is locat- ed at 2910 Marine Drive, the former location of Sa- lon 29. But the location, she said, has a more than 30-year history as a barber- shop, and she’s looking to bring back that business and sense of community. Levy, who’s worked for Crossfades Analog Barber- shop and Reef & Compa- ny Barbers, does haircuts, straight razor shaves and hot towel treatments in her 1890’s Koken hydrau- lic-powered barber chair, offering discounts for mem- bers of the military, veterans and for simplistic buzz cuts. “This is a barbershop/ studio,” said Levy, who also does lost-wax casting and other jewelry-making at her shop. Oly’s Barber Shop is open from 10:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. It’s closed on Wednesdays and Sundays, and takes appoint- ments Saturdays at 505- 989-3611. What are some of the quirks of your business? “Because we’re loud, it’s difficult for us. I really need to be in a place where I can be as loud as I want and not disturb my neighbors. Being here has been wonderful for the last two years, but it is very dif- ficult. And I’m actually … going to be moving. I’m looking at two possibilities. Both locations are big- ger than here, and I’m going to need the next month to put in floors and mirrors and make them lovely. I want to be a benefit to wherever we are.” Visit us online at www.DailyAstorian.com You Tube