Women-Owned Businesses in Downtown Temple

New businesses have continued to open in downtown Temple. In honor of International Women's Day, Discover Temple has created a list of women-owned/co-owned businesses in the downtown district. Celebrate your local women-owned businesses today!

Jaja Chen is a co-owner of Cha Community. Cha Community is a local boba tea cafe located at 7 N Main St. in downtown Temple. At Cha Community, Jaja aspires to bridge cultures and create community through premium boba tea offerings and Taiwanese and Chinese food.

Cha Community is headquartered in Waco, Texas, where the business started as a small pop-up tent shop at the Waco Downtown Farmer's Market in the Summer of 2018. Cha Community transformed the company into a boba tea truck in 2019 before opening its first storefront in downtown Waco in March 2020. In March of 2022, Cha Community opened its second storefront in downtown Temple.

At Cha Community, Jaja Chen focuses primarily on roles in marketing, community relations, strategic partnership, and strategic planning for the future vision and direction of Cha Community. 

"I am a 2nd generation Taiwanese American who spent the latter half of my childhood in Taiwan and China. As a third-culture kid (TCK), I reconnected with my cultural heritage and learned to love my cultural roots. Cha Community is an expression of that love, and it is my hope to increase Asian American representation and diversity in the Central Texas region." - Jaja Chen, Cha Community. 

Tit'a Charleston of Total Elegance Creations opened her event venue and rental space in 2021. Total Elegance Creations is located at 15 S Main St. She served in the US Navy for 20 years and in various government entities for an additional ten years prior to starting her own event services and business in downtown Temple.

Total Elegance Creations specializes in providing rentals for every kind of event. Rental items she has available include, but are not limited to, tables, chairs, linens, venue, centerpieces, backdrops, and much more. Tit'a's next venture comes by way of her acquisition of Waco Pedal Tours. Temple Pedal Tours will open in downtown Temple in April 2023.

Founded in 2021, Lenna Lane is a lifestyle boutique and hat bar located in downtown Temple at 118 S 1st St. This unique boutique and hat bar opened its doors in downtown Temple in 2022. Ade Price of Lenna Lane started Lenna Lane with a mission to connect with women and help them feel their best. The local boutique accomplishes the mission by providing new clothing options and an interactive hat bar experience. The hat bar experience makes shopping fun and exciting and gives Lenna Lane an opportunity to get to know its customers better.

"We know that when you look good, you feel good — and when you feel good, you can do anything! Our goal is to make sure that no matter what your style is or where your day takes you, there’s something for everyone at Lenna Lane." - Ade Price, Lenna Lane. 

If you are looking for an unforgettable shopping experience and a friendly face, visit Lenna Lane in downtown Temple today.

FoxDog is operated in a renovated historic home in downtown Temple located at 209 N 7th St. This local business is co-owned by Ashley Vernon and her husband, John. FoxDog opened in February of 2022 and recently celebrated its first anniversary. A unique FoxDog feature is the Pay It Forward board. Customers can stop by and see if someone bought them a drink, whether by name, occupation, or another designation. 

FoxDog sells local coffee, beer, and wine from businesses throughout Central Texas and beyond. FoxDog also features an outdoor stage for live music and comedy events, a shaded backyard, and a treehouse for children to play. FoxDog is open Fridays and Saturdays and for special events, as advertised on their social media. At FoxDog, it's all about making life brewtiful. FoxDog is also hosting an International Women's Day event celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of influential women from Central Texas. This event is a fantastic way to celebrate and empower women in the community.

"My husband, John, and I lived in the FoxDog house while we were renovating it! The house and backyard have so many wonderful memories for us, and seeing the space used and enjoyed by the community makes us incredibly proud and happy." - Ashley Vernon, co-owner of FoxDog.

Precious Memories is owned by businesswoman Seleese Thompson. Seleese owns both Precious Memories locations at 17 N 2nd St. and 1404 S 31st St.  Seleese has been in the industry for twenty years. She graduated from Temple High School, before attending Angelo State University and Texas A & M Floral School of Design and Business Operation.

Seleese has also served on many local boards and committees and is an active member in the community. Currently, Seleese serves as the Downtown Promotions Committee Chairperson. The Precious Memories downtown location features Christmas trees and decor year-round and provides floral arrangements. The art train outside of her downtown location tells the story of the building and its history as a hardware store, pet store, and now florist shop

The Art Department & Wreck Center is co-owned by Lea Goates. Lea Goates graduated from UMHB with a BFA in Visual Arts. With a vision to provide accessibility to art and the art community in Temple, the Goates wanted to provide a facility with space and equipment for the community to discover, develop and continue creative practices. The business comprises of three parts: a gallery facing 4th St., a classroom to host workshops and classes for all ages, skill levels, and interests, and a membership-based studio space. The studio provides access to equipment and the supply closet for mediums such as ceramics, printing, laser engraving, 3D printing, painting, drawing, fibers, and more. The Art Dept. will be located at 14 S 4th St.

As for The Wreck Center, the journey to starting a smash room event space began in late 2020 after the Goates visited a smash room. The concept of The Wreck Center is to be a fun, family-friendly attraction in downtown Temple. The Wreck Center will consist of four smash rooms, a viewing lounge, a messy space for kids, and a large party room. The Wreck Center will be located at 16 S 4th St.

Renovations are underway, and both The Art Dept. and The Wreck Center are set to open Summer of 2023. 

"Creating a home for local artists is our greatest mission, to make everyone, of all skill levels and interests, feel welcome and encouraged. That’s the feeling I remember of being part of the art department. Like I belonged. And that’s what we want to give back in downtown Temple." - Lea Goates, The Art Dept. & The Wreck Center

The Hub, located at 7 S 2nd St., features many women-owned vendor booths and spaces. The local business allows small business owners to sell their products in a vendor-based shopping experience. With 10,000 square feet of space, The Hub is home to almost 40 unique vendors, many of whom are women of all ages. 

Chupacabra Strength & Conditioning, "Chupafit", is co-owned by Brandi Miller and located at 201 S Main St. Brandi Miller was born and raised in Southern Oregon. She earned a degree in Nuclear Medicine and Personal Training Certificate from Oregon Institute of Technology. She spent several years in the field and joined the army before returning to nuclear medicine. Brandi then earned a Master's in Management from Austin Peay State University in Tennessee.

Chupafit offers simple, scalable, and individualized plans. ChupaFit uses varied movements, intensities, and equipment with programmed rest to keep your body at its highest fat-burning potential. ChupaFit has a specific class number to ensure that each person can receive the time and attention from the trainer to teach and understand the “what” and the “why” behind the form and exercise. ChupaFit gym is not just for classes. ChupFfit Open gym is built for those who want full access to all the equipment without having to commit to a class. 

"No matter how each person walks in, we all walk out the same: sweaty, tired, stronger, better." - Brandi Miller, Chupacabra Strength & Conditioning

Callie Ring owns Melody's, a local restaurant coming soon to downtown Temple. The restaurant will be located at 116 S 1st St.

Callie Ring is a 26-year-old small business owner and Temple Native. In 2018, Callie opened a photography studio inside The Hub, and in 2019 she transformed the upstairs level of The Hub into The Loft wedding venue. In November of 2022, she began designing and bringing her vision to own a restaurant to life. Callie has been the creative mind behind all the renovations and designs. Melody’s will be opening spring of this year. The new restaurant will feature a high-end brunch and lunch menu and hand-crafted cocktails. Later this year, the plan is to extend business hours to be open in the evenings as a reservation-only craft cocktail bar that will offer an experience that isn’t offered anywhere else in Bell County.

Athena Cobo owns The Parlour Antiques & Oddities located at 111 N Main St. When you visit the local business, you will often see Athena working with her children or husband. The Parlour Antiques & Oddities is a family business filled with unique creations and one-of-a-kind novelties. Athena had the idea to start her vintage shop through her own hobby of collecting unusual finds and antiques to decorate her home. Over time, the collection grew, and The Parlour Antiques & Oddities was created.  

Athena moved to Texas about 11 years ago and fell in love with Temple. Her goal was to open a business in downtown Temple. The Parlour is located inside the shop attached to the historic Kyle building.

"My sense of style has always been edgy and dark with a touch of glam, think Rupaul meets Elvira/David Bowie meets Billie Holiday, so my finds were eclectic, unique, and from all over. The shop is a reflection of that same vibe. As a black, female, small business owner, I am proud of the roots I am building in Temple." -Athena Cobo, The Parlour Antiques & Oddities

Susan Sterle operates out of the Sterle Fine Art Studio. This studio is located at 8 N 9th St in a one-hundred-year-old house that Sterle restored in the historic district of downtown Temple. Susan Sterle is known for creating images of the things she loves using oil and canvas.

A graduate of the University of Texas in Austin with a degree in Fine Art and Graphic Design, Sterle has been painting and drawing since she was very young. Plein air, studio work, and commission work is a part of her art journey, and she especially enjoys painting animals. Retired from a 30-year graphic design career, she teaches art and workshops and works as a freelance graphic designer and photographer. She can also be found hosting guests at the Airbnb located upstairs above her studio that she owns and operates. Whenever she has a chance, Sterle enjoys painting outdoors, nature, biking, fishing, kayaking, and playtime with her miniature dachshund, Sophie, all while scouting for the perfect location for her next Plein Air Creation.

"Art is a visual love language that helps me communicate the importance of the people, animals, places, landscapes, and experiences in my life. It is my way of sharing what I see and experience." - Susan Sterle, Sterle Fine Art Studio. 

Downtown Temple is full of incredible women-owned businesses. In addition to the businesses mentioned, the downtown district has more local businesses owned or co-owned by women as well as a few food trucks at The Yard Food Truck Plaza that are co-owned by women. Women-owned businesses in downtown Temple include:

• The Wick & Burn
• Tip Top Grooming
• Weird Doughs 
• Lone Star Pin-Up Photography
• Darling Decor & More
• Twice Upon A Clothesline
• Hair Lash Junkie
• Fire Base Brewing
• 2nd Street Emporium

Do you know of another local woman-owned business in downtown Temple or in the destination? Nominate the business by emailing us at discovertemple@templetx.gov 

Once your request has been emailed to us, we will tag the business as Woman-Owned on its listing.

Support and discover women-owned businesses in Temple!