Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.

Brandon Johnston

Hi, my name is Brandon Johnston and I am the Owner of Soul 2 Sole Creations (DBA: S2S Creations). I am a Raleigh native but moved away roughly 10 years ago to the outskirts of Milwaukee, Wisconsin for school. Prior to that I had worked in running specialty retail since the age of 15 which primarily helped me with understanding how the retail world of footwear retail works and it helped educate me on the anatomy of shoes. Read More>>

Evelyn Malveau-sanders

Established in 2021, My husband and I wanted to start a family business; as we have always been fascinated with thrift stores for a long time. The ball started rolling when we sold a special edition Campbells Soup Polaroid Camera. We found it while helping my mother-in-law clean out old items from her home. After that? Major Nostalgia took off like a rocket! Read More>>

Aurora Mercado

My journey into the world of makeup began during the YouTube beauty guru era when I was a teenager entering high school. I was captivated by the skills and knowledge that beauty professionals shared, and I felt an irresistible urge to explore and learn as much as I could. Initially, I focused on experimenting with different looks on myself. After graduating, I started doing makeup for my friends in my mom’s bathroom. But Soon it turned into birthdays, & weddings. Read More>>

Angela Vittori

Well I’ve been singing since I was a little girl. I remember being so mesmerized by female singers on TV and I wanted to be just like them. I idolized any woman with a microphone and a strong voice. I grew up singing at school and in church. I actually used to get scolded by my choir teacher for not singing the songs properly and precisely. I guess I always had a way of taking the song and singing it the way I wanted to sing it.  Read More>>

Veronica Mossed

I started photography as a hobby back in high school and slowly grew it into a business. I remember begging my mom for a camera for Christmas when I was younger and she got me my first camera. I became self taught from then on and started practicing by asking my friends to model for me. Next thing you know, I’m receiving inquires to do photoshoots and that’s when I took the approach to learn more about the business side of photography too. Read More>>

Jonathan Blitz

Mystic began in 2013 when Mystic Bourbon Liqueur, a blend of bourbon, wildflower honey, and 9 spices, hit the market. This handcrafted spirit quickly grew, and the business needed a home. The founders purchased a 22 acre farm property on the East side of Durham and began producing pot distilled bourbon from the crisp water in the aquifer below the distillery, grain grown by the owners on leased acreage nearby, and aged in seasoned North Carolina white oak. The business has grown to produce 6 barrels of fine bourbon per week. Read More>>

Natresha Moore

I’m Natresha, licensed cosmetologist and owner of Natresha Glam U. I obtained certification through the Aveda Institute, & began behind the chair servicing all hair types. Hair services initially ranged from kid styles, protective styling as well as color and extensions. From home based, salon, & salon suite I have worked and adapted in different hair settings. Read More>>

Shaberta Rhone-williams

Bea-A-Mayzed Cheer and Dance, LLC is a program where every and any child that has a desire to dance or cheer can do so regardless of expierence, size, gender, race or disability. It is named after my biological and adopted moms Beatrice and Mayzella. I was adopted and in the foster care system at the age of 8. My mom did an open adoption and adopted myself, two of my siblings and my nephew to keep us all together. She wanted to make sure that we would always know our biological family and never lose that connection. Read More>>

Athina Mancia

Now, I’m a super mom to an amazing 9-year-old princess, and I like to think of myself as a unicorn – yes, a magical one! I juggle a colorful mix of passions and projects: I thrive in the tech world at an IT company in Raleigh, while also running my own fabulous jewelry line. Read More>>

Paul Maskill

I love being able to use my financial expertise and ownership experience in the trades to help landscaping, electrical, plumbing and HVAC business owners build a financially healthy business. By being their financial guide to consistent, positive cash flow they are able to focus on their business and achieve their financial, personal, business and wealth building goals. Read More>>

Viviana Anderson

My name is Viviana Anderson and I am from Los Angeles California. I am 34 years old. Married for 13 years this August with 3 kids. My childhood life was not like everyone else’s. My mother had me when she was 16 years old in 1990. My biological father left my mom as he was not ready to have a child of his own. My moms older brother decided to take care of me as his own daughter. Read More>>

Mikaya Thurmond

After graduation, I reported across the southeast, eventually landing at WRAL in Raleigh. Over seven years, I advanced from a morning reporter to weekend anchor and, finally, weekday anchor, delivering the news to hundreds of thousands of viewers daily and earning two Associated Press awards and four Emmy nominations.  Read More>>

Howard Eason

I am a sought-after Interior Designer who is extremely passionate about all things creative. The road to get here was not laid out for me. I was born in a small North Carolina town and grew up in a farm-like setting. As a child, I always had big dreams and imagined myself in more creative and inspiring spaces.  Read More>>

Lola Urena

The first job I ever acquired in the world of flowers was working with Deana Nguyen when she was designing florals for Brewery Bhavana in downtown Raleigh. This is where I learned the names of flowers, how to identify them, and how to care for fresh stems. Deana now owns her own studio called Feature Flora, also located in Raleigh. Later on, I made a big life decision to experience something new and exciting, which led me to move to Colorado in 2018.  Read More>>

Alice Zealy

At an early age, I found an immense passion for interior design and architecture. I studied art and design from grade school through high school and while other girls were subscribing to Seventeen magazine, I was making inspiration boards from Architectural Digest Magazine.  Read More>>

Garian Duval

When coming back to my hometown of Raleigh after graduating from East Carolina University, I gained a new found love for the city. From the bustling restaurants to the amazing skyline, I saw the potential that I could bring to the beautiful metropolis of oak. From creating dancing videos in North Hills, promoting new restaurants/clubs in the city, reviewing local fragrances, to performing across all of downtown with my singing, I am proud to show how amazing Raleigh is! Read More>>

Latonya So

I’m just a small town girl with a whole lot of faith and unmerited favor! This journey called life has been full of hills and valleys success and failure. I became a manicurist at the age of 20 when I had to pivot to a fast tracked career to welcome and provide for my first born child as a single mom. I fell in love with the nail industry enough to stay 25 years and counting! Read More>>

Dj Meet

In 2008, my friend needed someone to DJ for him at the skate rink. I wasn’t doing anything so he had the bright idea for me to do it. I didn’t mind learning how to DJ for the sake of having the skill but I didn’t want to DJ for real. He taught me how to DJ in less than thirty seconds. That whole week I was practicing every day and that Saturday night I went up to the rink and DJ the session and it was awesome. The rest is history. Read More>>

Questin Clay

This made me accumulate some reputation in the surrounding areas of producing high quality video for a reason price. I officially registered my business in 2015 as A Guy Called Quest Productions. I’m a big Hip Hop head so I played off the legendary hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest name. Since every one calls me Quest for short, I’m literally A GUY CALLED QUEST. Read More>>

Matthias Handrich

I am one of 7 brothers from a small Amish and Menonite town in Northern Michigan. A few years back one of my brothers got interested in 3D printing and inspired me to get my own printer. I did it as a hobby for 5 years and found a passion to help others learn how to use 3D printers as well, In August of 2022 I started a Google business page on a whim. From there I started getting a few jobs here and there incuding Durham Public Schools, who reached out about a service and repair contract for their 3D printers.  Read More>>

Nina Morgan

The connections and community has made it a smooth road. I think in the beginning it was difficult to find who my ideal client was and find what I wanted to offer- rentals, inflatables, etc. so it took some trial and error, but once I got niche specific to just balloons and knew who I wanted my client to be its been successful growth. Read More>>

Christine Adams

I think I realized I was an empathetic person at a young age, I remember watching movies and reading books when I was a young girl and being deeply moved by people’s resiliency and their stories. I think this translated into an interest working in environments where I could help people and provide care. Read More>>

Blake Kinsey

Post-grad, I landed in Durham, NC, where I got started in the world of film & video production. I started a small-time production company, worked on lots of sets and spent time simply trying to network & meet people. One thing I eventually realized was that there are a tremendous amount of filmmakers & film curious folks in the greater Triangle area. But, everyone plugged into the scene often stays within their own production circles. Upon this realization, the idea for a film collective was born. Read More>>

Narkie Nartey

In 2019, I embarked on a creative journey that would ultimately transform not just my life, but the lives of countless children across diverse communities. It all began with a simple idea—a children’s book about a mischievous character named Wakaboomee. Wakaboomee was green with spots, a playful figure who, though seemingly incorrigible, could be persuaded by the children around him to choose a better path. The message was clear: with a little guidance and a lot of curiosity, Wakaboomee could discover the joy of learning, unveiling new worlds filled with promise and opportunity. Read More>>

Ellen Barber

I actually come from a long line of healers, so energy work has always been a big part of my life. But it took me some time to fully embrace it as my true calling. It wasn’t until 2022, after some pretty significant personal experiences—like this really transformative retreat and a healing course—that I realized healing is what I’m meant to do. Read More>>

Stephanee Johnson

My name is Stephanee Johnson better known as NeeCJae on YouTube, where I’ve built a community of over 32,600 subscribers and garnered over 2 million views. As a small content creator, I identified a gap in online content catering to mature skin and beauty concerns for women over 40 and 50. Nine years ago, I created a channel focused on skincare, makeup, natural hair, and menopause, with the goal of empowering women to embrace their beauty and individuality.  Read More>>

Ma’at Cokely

It all started the summer I was turning 16. I was combing out my locks of eight years, my whole family had them. I didn’t know anything about single strand hair, and I did not grow up with any talent for it to be honest. My journey trying to learn how to do this new version of my own hair led me into cosmetology. I’ve always been someone who enjoyed learning new things, so I quickly went from doing my own hair to styling my classmates. Read More>>

DJ Nabs

I was born in Durham, North Carolina at the historic Lincoln Hospital to my father, Youtha Y. Fowler (YY) and mother, Mary Ann Milford. I grew up in the Walltown Community which is where I spent most of my childhood.  It was in this neighborhood where I began to manifest my dreams. Read More>>

TaKenya Hampton

As my interest in blogging grew, I began to focus on making my blog a source of income so I could stay at home with my family and work more on my own terms. I then went on to work for an ad agency that supported bloggers and then a company that created plugins for bloggers, gaining valuable knowledge and experience along the way. Read More>>

Jose Perez

In the year 2000, Venezuela was in the midst of a social and economic crisis that forced many families to seek new opportunities abroad. José David Pérez was one of those brave men who decided to leave his homeland in search of a better future for himself and his family. With nothing more than a couple of suitcases and a heart full of hope, he arrived in the United States determined to work hard and build a new life. Read More>>

Victoria & Justin Khoury

We both started in music at a young age. Victoria sang in church, Justin played in rock bands in High School and previously had a band with his sister called The Northerners that had regional success in Richmond, VA. Burn the Breeze was formed a few months ago in March. Victoria and I were playing acoustic shows for the last year but decided our music lends itself better to having a full band. Our musical inspirations are mostly 60’s and 70’s rock bands. We are trying to create music that sounds new but familiar with nods to the era that we love. Read More>>

Arvid Choudhury

I began painting mixed media works in the summer of 2021. My need to create in this space is a direct response to suffocation/oppression. I began building a body of work called THE AMERICAN OTHER a COLLECTION OF 50 in the summer of 2021, this collection emerged from the constraints of Covid, the constraints of me existing in my skin & is a direct response to the murder of George Floyd. Read More>>

Shaneka Willingham

In 2021, I began making products for myself. I started with a turmeric and honey bar, herbal face oil, rosewater, and herbal body butter, I was pleased with the outcome. After sharing my products online, friends expressed a lot of interest and ended up loving the products as well. This unexpected response led to the start of Nek’s Beauty. Initially, my intention was solely to make natural products for myself. I had no plans on starting a business.  Read More>>