Highlighting women business owners who help put the ‘Her’ in Hertel Avenue

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — In the heart of Hertel Avenue, there are more than 30 businesses in the neighborhood that are owned by women who inspire the community every day.

“Hertel has been so wonderful, we truly are a community full of women who do nothing but support each other,” said Casey Shebat, owner of Natura Skin Boutique. “We have a little of everything I feel like on Hertel, which is great. You can come here and literally get it all.”

Clean Collectice Refillery, Boost Body Buffalo and Pure Podiatry, just to name a few, are women-owned businesses on Hertel Avenue.

“We all need to journey this life together, we’re not meant to be alone,” said Susan Morreale, who co-owns “HER Story,” “Her Sanctuary” and “Her Kitchen” on Hertel Avenue.

Morreale started her business more than three decades ago and said nowadays, there’s more of a known community of women helping each other succeed. She now works alongside her daughter, Ciara, who she wants to inspire through it all.

“It’s been important to empower women, but most importantly to me, to empower my daughter and to show her how to be a strong woman and also to be a woman that supports her community and loves the people around her,” Morreale said.

Whether they recently moved in or have been a neighbor for decades, many of the women business owners who help put the “Her” in Hertel Avenue are helping share advice for women to make their own story this Women’s History Month.

“The advice I have is to never give up, just follow your dreams,” said Liz Giovino, owner of Gramma Mora’s. “You wake up sometimes and you’re not sure what’s going to come your way, but just keep going. Think Positive, it’ll go a long way.”

“Listen to your inner voice — connect with other women, come together with your community because we can’t do it alone,” said Melanie Macaluso, owner of Alchemy Studio.

“Go for it, stay strong and support everybody, show up,” said Lisa Samar, owner of Daisy’s Dog House.

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Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.

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