MINOA — A ribbon cutting was held on Friday, June 23 for the opening of Northbound Mind + Body Shop in Minoa. The business, located at 116 N. Main St., is set up to be a haven of holistic products, self-care services and community-connecting events meant to promote mental and physical well-being.
On its shelves, the place of respite contains items like comfort crystals, nonfiction books, manifestation tattoos, scented candles, meditation cushions and books of affirmations.
In collaboration with Spill the Tea Cafe, situated just down the street, the new storefront unveiled a tea bar on its opening day complete with aromatic choices to relax the muscles, provide immune support, produce an anti-inflammatory effect and result in more restful sleep.
Jaime “JJ” Weisberg, who was previously working out of a suite at 5900 N. Burdick St. in East Syracuse, said she has been “really excited” to move into and open up the larger space and that partnering with the owners of Spill the Tea has been “incredible.”
“I like to think of this as a modern-day general store which is like a gathering place to support our needs nowadays,” said Weisberg, who is a Minoa resident. “It’s kind of a thing that’s organically happened with a lot of collaborators.”
Addressing the group gathered for the ribbon cutting, she gave thanks to Christina and John Hodges of Spill the Tea for offering tips about opening a new business and Minoa Mayor Bill Brazill for helping to put in the lighting with John. Weisberg also shouted out Jen Wood, who owns the Northbound building as well as Trappers II Pizza & Pub across the street and has been a friend of hers since she was 12 years old.
“Our business owners are all working together, and no one’s in competition,” Brazill said. “That’s what’s great about our village.”
Adding that he smiles “ear to ear” every time there’s an opportunity to open a new business in the village of Minoa, Brazill presented a congratulatory plaque in recognition of the occasion and wished Weisberg “all the success in the world.” He also handed her the gift of a framed photograph showing what the building used to be about a century ago: a general store by the name of Strodel & Platz that similarly sold tea and catered to everyday needs of the community.
Outside the shop, where a laundromat and an antique store had also stood in the past, Onondaga East Chamber presented a certificate of achievement for the grand opening, and inside the doors a few minutes later Weisberg opened up the cash register for those who wanted to do some shopping. There was also a DJ in the back of the main room and a spread with banana bread and blueberries, diced strawberries, white chocolate chips and granola that could be put into cups of yogurt.
Going forward, the hub for nourishment is planning to introduce a free lending library, a loose herb apothecary, workshops and on-site acupuncture.
The shop’s hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 to 5 on Saturdays and Sundays.
