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.

Valerie Ayers

When I was in college, I struggled to settle on a major because I thought my degree had to define my entire future. Looking back, I realize I was just wired like an entrepreneur and wanted my hand in multiple things, even if I didn’t know how to name that yet. Read more>>

Kaci Hendrix

My marketing career started with me running my own lifestyle/fashion blog back in 2017, where I grew a passion in social media and marketing. From there, I worked in the marketing department of a large restaurant/hospitality group based in Houston where I worked on several major marketing campaigns. Then I was the marketing director for a local real estate firm for over 2 years. Read more>>

Myah LeMaster

We started all because of my mother in law Karen Howard. she started Serene Beans 11 years ago and took Katy by storm. Read more>>

Alesia Huff

I am Alesia Huff the founder and owner of Personal Space. Personal Space was born from my love of creativity, community, and thoughtfully designed environments. For years, I’ve been the person who creates moments — planning gatherings, hosting craft nights, and organizing meaningful experiences. I’ve always believed that when people come together something deeper happens. At the same time, I saw a gap. Read more>>

Christopher Estrada

It all started in 2020 when the pandemic hit. At the time, I was working in the oilfield industry, and within a few months, I was laid off along with many others. I spent about 30 days actively looking for work, but due to my background and some mistakes I made when I was younger, opportunities were limited. Read more>>

Hanna Mattern

I was at a point in my life where my son had gotten older and I wanted something fun to do! I have been a bartender since I can remember, LOVE IT, but it was time I did something I actually got girl time out of as well! Read more>>

Alex Drisaldi

I spent five years working as an outdoor landscaper, but plants have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Toward the end of 2024, my passion naturally evolved into the world of indoor exotic houseplants—particularly rare and unusual varieties that felt harder to find and even harder to learn about in a welcoming way. Read more>>

Tristin Chiafullo

I’ve taken a non-linear path to the work I do today, but in many ways it’s always carried the same thread: helping people create stability, clarity, and strength during periods of change. I learned early how to adapt, which made me highly independent, resilient, and deeply observant. Read more>>

Te’Lila Robinson

I got started in chiropractic because of a turning point in my own life. My sophomore year in college, I was in a bad auto collision, and afterward I began dealing with debilitating migraines. That experience introduced me to a chiropractor who not only helped me physically, but educated me on natural and holistic healthcare—how the body can heal when it’s supported properly. Read more>>

George Sheldon

My wife and I are retired educators, I taught in public schools, was a principal and taught some at the university level. My wife taught some general education but mainly special education. We started our business as something to do and to give us a little extra income to spoil our 9 grandchildren or our 8 children. We begin by making wooden plaques with epoxy. Read more>>

Krystal Seymoure

My journey began with a deep love for dance and an even deeper passion for pouring into young people—especially young girls who needed a safe space to grow, be seen, and be confident. What started as a small vision quickly became Doll Girls Dance Studio, a place rooted in discipline, creativity, and community. Read more>>

Ash Patton

Once my dad passed away, i then dived into my saved funds to open my Jamaican food truck business “A Jamaican Ting” dedicated to my dad’s passion for cooking. Teaching me all that i know & ensuring generational wealth for my family. All that i do is to make myself & my family proud & to represent Jamaica as my parents are from Jamaica. I love my culture. Read more>>

Ed Lewis

In 1983, I founded Industrial Info Resources (IIR) at a time when both the economy and my personal life were experiencing some turmoil. I’d recently lost my job in the construction industry, and I had a family at home to support. After some time of not having much luck in my job search, I began reaching out to my former clients. Read more>>

Hiba Haroon

I am a writer, artist, healer, and visionary rooted in the pursuit of our collective well-being and freedom. Born in Karachi, Pakistan and raised in Houston, Texas, I carry the lived experience of migration and belonging across borders. Read more>>

JC Ricks

My story is deeply rooted in family and my upbringing. I grew up with my mother, who was born and raised in Africa and endured significant hardships. Despite everything she faced, she greeted each day with a smile and an unwaveringly positive attitude, something that has shaped mine and my brother’s constant optimism and outlook on life. Read more>>

Hiba Al Haj

I was raised in a modest family from Sudan, where perseverance and education were non-negotiable values. My parents worked hard to give us stability, and alongside my four brothers, I learned early on that consistency and discipline were the foundation of any opportunity. Read more>>

Douglas Cheney

Our story began on February 3, 2019. My wife, Michelle, volunteered to foster for a local animal rescue. That was the night Amigo walked into our lives. From that day on we fostered him and eventually foster failed. We also fostered many dogs after that and also foster failed on 3 of those. Today we have 4 dogs that we foster failed. Read more>>

Beth Werner

I grew up near Houston and went to college at University of Texas in Austin. After school, I worked in Houston planning and designing luxury events for over 15 years before my path crossed with Mont Art House. I have now been the art consultant for Mont for over two years, helping corporate and residential clients acquire beautiful artwork. Read more>>

Angel Flowers

It all started when I lost my job at mister car wash , used my last check when to Home Depot and spend it all on material to build a box out of plywood to go sell corn. Read more>>

Isadora Mangino

I began my journey in the arts as a dancer, studying ballet and later deepening my practice in tango. Over time, I realized that my passion went beyond performing—I wanted to educate, share, and create meaningful cultural experiences through dance. Read more>>

Ritu Patel

I started dancing with T2 Dance Company back in Fall of 2022. Little did I know how much of an impact this phenomenal dance company would have in my life. Anisha and Sonali, the founders, created a space for women to reignite their passion for dance. This is something that had been missing for many years in my life. Read more>>

Sarah Lieberman

I grew up working in our family restaurant in Dover, Delaware, from the time I was 12 years old, so you could say hospitality is in my blood. I left my small town in 2001 at the age of 20 to pursue bigger things in Philadelphia and studied at The University of the Arts, where I received my BS in Industrial Design. Read more>>

Zack Yang

I entered the tattoo industry driven by a deep respect for Japanese art and its sense of structure, symbolism, and discipline. Over time, I realized that long-term success in tattooing isn’t defined solely by style or technique, but by how thoughtfully the craft is built into a sustainable practice. Read more>>

Steve Ertle

I and my best friend of many years wanted to be in the motorcycle business and we searched for years in the Houston Area to find an underperforming dealership that was for sale. In 1996 we found the perfect opportunity. We purchased Action Cycles on the east side of Houston in Highlands. It was a project to say the least. Read more>>

Marietta Hamilton

Embracing New Beginnings, Inc. was born out of a very real place—watching women and families carry heavy burdens in silence, and realizing that survival shouldn’t be the final goal. Restoration should be. For years, I’ve been the kind of person who notices what people don’t always say out loud. The woman who’s trying to hold herself together after a setback. Read more>>

Taylor Pulliam

Fresh Buckle Co was born during one of the hardest seasons of my life. Almost a year ago, my husband was diagnosed with stage two cancer while he was finishing chemotherapy. He wasn’t ready to return to work, and I found myself in a season of waiting and uncertainty. Read more>>

Jason Breshears

My wife and I started an ad agency called Adworks Houston—now J. Lincoln Group—focusing on events and touring attractions. One of our clients was using this clunky mom-and-pop ticketing platform that looked terrible and was hard to navigate. So I built them something simpler. They loved it and made the switch immediately. That first version was basic—just built for them. Read more>>

Charonda Johnson

My family has been in the community of Freedmen’s Town/4th Ward for five generations. My grandmother as well as my mother served our community without titles or any formal recognition. Being a community servant is in my blood fast forward to 2015 where my life took a dramatic turn. I wasn’t apart of any community group I would volunteer to coach the youth basketball team, but i knew of the historic protection for our brick streets.  Read more>>

OLUWATOBI ADELEKE

My journey into mental health advocacy is deeply personal. I migrated from Nigeria with dreams of building a better life, but like many immigrants, that transition came with its own emotional and psychological challenges. Growing up, I saw firsthand how mental health issues affected members of my family, yet these struggles were rarely acknowledged or addressed. Read more>>

leila peraza

Space Montrose began in 2010, founded by Carlos and me with a simple dream: to create a place where our community could come together and support independent artists and entrepreneurs. We wanted a space that didn’t just sell beautiful things, but shared the stories behind the makers who created them. Over the years, we’ve had the honor of representing hundreds of artists and creators. Read more>>