New paint party business opens downtown

Picture Perfect Paint Parties is opening a 1,700 square-foot store in the Talbott Tower in downtown Dayton.

Picture Perfect Paint Parties is opening a 1,700 square-foot store in the Talbott Tower in downtown Dayton.

Traveling business Picture Perfect Paint Parties will open its first storefront in downtown Dayton at 4 p.m. today.

Offering paint parties for church groups, schools, businesses, families and other groups, the company started as a church fundraiser, said owner Dana Calhoun. Calhoun and her son Branden operate the business, which grew from a fundraiser into a mobile operation, offering paint parties in nursing homes, at community events and in customers’ homes.

BIZ BEAT: We tried grocery delivery service: 5 things we found out

As the business moves into its brick-and-mortar location at 123 N. Ludlow St. in the Talbott Tower, Calhoun has also applied for a liquor permit to offer popular wine and paint parties for family reunions, bachelorette parties and other events. She also said a physical location will give opportunities for people who work downtown to paint both canvas and wood to to de-stress and relax during lunch breaks.

“It’s not just about fun for us,” she said. “The business is about social art. It’s about making people feel good; it’s about assisting people in relaxing and bringing out their creativity.”

In addition to Calhoun and her son, the business will employ four contract artists.

»RELATED: MoviePass limits customers to 3 movies a month

While the store is one of the pop-up shops in a program run by the Downtown Dayton Partnership that typically have shorter leases at cheaper rents, Calhoun said she went all in and signed a yearlong lease. The rent is starting out lower than average and each month will climb closer to market value.

“Because of the pop-up program, we kind of feel like they’re big brother,” she said. “They’re walking us through this, and they want to make sure, as much as they can, that the small businesses are successful.”

Calhoun said her 1,700 square-foot space in the Talbott Tower is a lot larger and in a much more convenient location than she could have attained on her own.

FIVE FAST READS

PHOTOS: Luxury Beavercreek home for sale set on 5.2 acres

Bob Evans suspends partnership with Urban Meyer

SNEAK PEEK: New Kettering grocery store features closeout merchandise

• ‘Grocery wars’: How local stores are competing for your dollars

Ohio Chipotle closes after 600+ illnesses reported

About the Author