May 2024 – Rochester Mending & Alterations

Tiffany Lukens • 31 December 2024

May 2024 – Rochester Mending & Alterations

December 31, 2024

Four people hold a

Pictured left to right: Chamber Ambassadors Julie Shriver with Beacon Credit Union, Terry Engstrand with White Oaks Bison Farm, Amber Basham with Life Care Center of Rochester, and Chamber Board Member Lindy Breeden.

Please enjoy this interview with Owners Ebony and Ivory:

Describe some of the services you offer:

Rochester Mending & Alterations is a Full Service Sewing Shop that provides all kinds of professional alterations, miscellaneous mending, and custom project sewing and design. We are truly Full Service in that customers regularly trust us with many different kinds of alterations; from their $3,000.00 wedding dress to remaking their Grandpa’s old vinyl tractor seat (including foam) to hemming their favorite pair of jeans – and everything in between and beyond. If it is something that was sewn – Rochester Mending can alter, mend, or restore nearly every item whether the item be clothing, costume, upholstery, leather, auto, marine, shoes/boots, or even stuffed animals and dolls. Mondays at Rochester Mending are reserved for onsite jobs repairing or remaking items too inconvenient to move – like boats, or large sofas. Mondays are also reserved for our customers that are house or wheelchair-bound due to disabilities. In addition to our Mending and Alteration Services, we also provide professional Dry Cleaning Services for clothing, hats, comforters, area rugs, winter coats, and formal wear.

What inspired you to open Rochester Mending & Alterations?

Precision sewing is a skill that was passed down directly to the sister owner/operators, Ebony and Ivory, by three living generations of older family members. However, professional quality sewing and natural fiber textile sales is documented to extend back in the family tree for many more generations. Sewing and textiles have been a part of the owners’ lives for as long as they can remember – as are the many stories describing the attention to detail and pains that older generations took over their and their families’ garments. The inspiration to open a shop to the public came from the sisters seeing a need in the area for a truly Full Service Sewing Shop as a service to the local community. With younger generations sewing less and lifestyles becoming more dependent on ready-made clothing – offering mending and alteration services is a way to preserve, renew, and refit clothing and/or other upholstered items, in a cost effective and sustainable way. Instead of throwing clothing or chairs away (due to ugly edges, loose elastic, “bagginess,” a broken zipper or low quality sewing) and going out to buy new –– a professional sewing service can help families, and those on fixed incomes, save money – as well as the time it takes to leave town and re-buy certain items brand new. Members of the community should always consider themselves welcome to use the shop as a resource for learning about different textiles and fabrics, finding out where textiles come from, or getting information for how to best care for a certain textile or fabric. Formal sewing classes are also available at Rochester Mending for those seeking to choose, use, and care for a sewing machine of their own.

Are there any services or expansions planned for the future?

This year we are working to grow our wedding suit and tuxedo side of Rochester Mending & Alterations by catering especially to brides and grooms seeking local wedding party services. Back in January, Rochester Mending & Alterations began renting & selling Jim’s Formalwear suits and tuxedos; a partnership that came about thanks to Mike Rich from Richie’s Men’s Wear. Mike thought a suit and tux service would be a ‘good fit’ for Rochester Mending – given the suit and tux alterations already provided at our shop – and, so far, he has been right! Friday afternoons at Rochester Mending are now reserved for private wedding parties – and our staff is currently working with Gualtieri’s Bakery, here in Rochester, to have baked goods catered for our wedding party guests; in addition to other special “extras” that we offer to help make large-party tux and gown fittings special occasions to remember.

What tips do you have for someone seeking alterations?

Your imagination is the limit when it comes to clothing alterations and custom sewing projects. One of the things we enjoy most is helping bring our customers’ imaginations to life. If you have an idea, please feel welcome to stop by and try your design idea by one of us here at Rochester Mending – we will be able to give you a good idea about whether your project is doable, such as what kind of price you would be looking at, the amount of time it would take, what kind of fabric and materials would work best – so on and so forth. You can always take the information you receive and shop around – but do rest assured that sewing services at Rochester Mending & Alterations are professional quality, pricing is standardized whenever possible, and we work hard to make sure our customers are happy; we strive every day to produce results that are as good as, or better, than what is sold in box stores. As a Full Service sewing shop the staff at Rochester Mending have the diverse skill set, experience, supplies, and appropriate machines to help you get your alterations done right - and looking just as good as new.

How can Fulton County residents get ahold of you?

Get ahold of us here at Rochester Mending by stopping in at 706 Main St., here in Rochester, or by calling us at 574-223-8090.

The post May 2024 – Rochester Mending & Alterations appeared first on Fulton County Chamber of Commerce - IN.

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September 2026 - Nubiano's Pizza

1 September 2026

Tell us a little about Nubiano’s Pizza! How did the business get started, and what inspired you to get into the pizza business? Nubiano’s Pizza was started in 1982 by Bob Newby, with assistance and training from my father, Mike Dingo. My father shared the original Bruno’s Pizza recipe and helped Bob get the business started. Nubiano’s was later sold to the Siciliano family, who loved and nurtured the business for many years before we had the opportunity to purchase it. For me, being in the pizza business is truly a family tradition. I grew up around it, so continuing that tradition while becoming part of the Fulton County community has been very meaningful to me. What do you think makes Nubiano’s Pizza stand out, and what are a few menu items you think everyone should try at least once? I believe Nubiano’s stands out because of the freshness and quality of our ingredients and the care we put into making our food. We work with a supplier that provides unique, high-quality Italian products, and we still do many things the traditional way. Our dough is hand-rolled nightly, our cheese is freshly ground from blocks, and our dough contains no unnecessary additives. We believe those extra steps make a difference you can taste. Everyone has a favorite, but I always say that if you really want to judge the quality of a pizza, try a plain cheese pizza. There’s nowhere for the ingredients to hide—you can truly taste the quality of the dough, sauce, and cheese. Another favorite is our Nachos Deluxe. We know nachos aren’t necessarily what you expect from a pizza place, but using our pizza cheese on them is a game changer! Every restaurant has its regulars! What’s the most popular order at Nubiano’s, and is there a menu item you think deserves a little more love? Our most popular pizza is definitely the Deluxe, topped with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers. One menu item I think deserves a little more love in Fulton County is our ground pepperoni. It has been a longtime favorite with our Logansport customers, and I would love to see more Fulton County customers discover it. It has a fresh, distinctive flavor and is a great example of the quality ingredients we use. What has been the most rewarding part of owning and operating a business in the Fulton County community? The first thing that comes to mind is knowing that Nubiano’s has become part of so many Fulton County families’ traditions. Around the holidays especially, I hear heartwarming stories from customers about having our pizza after the birth of a child, celebrating an anniversary, gathering with family, or marking another special occasion. Knowing that our food has been part of those memories means so much to us. We also love having the opportunity to give back to the community. Whether it’s offering discounts to local teams, donating to raffles and fundraisers, sponsoring organizations, or helping a family or cause in need, being in this business gives us the ability to support the community that supports us. That opportunity to give back is truly priceless. What’s something people might not know about Nubiano’s Pizza—the owners, your team, or what happens behind the scenes? Something people may not realize is how much our team operates like a family. We cover for one another when someone needs help, check in on each other outside of work, and genuinely care about what is happening in each other’s lives. Of course, like any family, we work hard and occasionally drive each other a little crazy—but at the end of the day, we support one another. I think that sense of family carries over into how we treat our customers as well. 6. If you had to create a “Fulton County Pizza,” what toppings would be on it? I think our “Fulton County Pizza” would have to be a pepperoni pizza—with the pepperoni arranged in the shape of a heart—because we truly love being part of this community.

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August 2026 - Mustangs to Fear

by Tiffany Lukens • 1 August 2026

1. For those in our community who may not be familiar with Mustangs to Fear, tell us a little about what you do and the products and services you offer. In addition to restoring/building classic Mustangs, we have also developed a line of custom parts for 1965-70 Mustangs including suspension, interior, fiberglass, and engine swap parts. 2. How did Mustangs to Fear get its start, and what inspired you to build a business centered around the Ford Mustang? After working in the truck accessories and collision industry for several years, the company gradually settled on Mustangs. After getting frustrated at how much extra effort it took to make the products on the market fit, we decided it would be better to develop our own. 3. Mustangs to Fear serves customers well beyond Fulton County. Where are some of your customers located, and what might surprise people about the reach of your business? We ship our products all over the world. After the USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe are our largest markets. We frequently have customers come to our shop from eastern Canada and occasionally from western Canada to pick up their orders and tour the shop. 4. What goes on behind the scenes at Mustangs to Fear that the average person driving by your business might never realize? Probably the global reach of our business and our reputation for quality parts and outstanding customer service among those looking to restore their classic Mustang. 5. What do you enjoy most about operating Mustangs to Fear right here in Fulton County, and what has being part of this community meant to your business? We have the best customers and a truly outstanding team at MTF! Nearly all of the parts we sell are manufactured within 100 miles of Rochester. Not only buying American but also supporting local business is very important to the continued success of MTF

(574) 224-2666