Alexis, Brian and Amy Gantt
Meowza opens to feline fanfare
The Dayton Mall has a new novel niche market. Cat lovers will be thrilled by the new feline boutique Meowza, a group effort involving a number of artists, the Humane Society of Dayton and incidentally involving at least six folks with Oakwood connections.
Brian Weltge is director of the Humane Society of Greater Dayton and a 1982 graduate of Oakwood High School. He is credited with starting the store as a fundraising effort for the spay/neuter program as well as the foster care program for kittens. Cat adoptions are another avenue for providing homes to cats looking for owners.
The store sells various cat supplies and themed items, some made by Oakwood resident and artist Amy Gantt. She has been in the business of producing greeting cards, tote bags, teapot prints, gardening accessories with cat-oriented graphics on them. She also has a line of high-end T-shirts with her artwork on them produced by Oakwood residents Vince and Wendy Lewis of Hooper Concepts. The store can count 136 products so far that are sold over the counter. Oakwood resident Alexis Wagner is general manager of the store and is enjoying her new job so far.
Standing around talking with the various folks from Oakwood, who should walk in but Tammy Whalen, who is a board member of the Humane Society and lifelong Oakwoodian to boot. As an added twist of irony, she admits that she is allergic to cats. “I make money for cats,” she said. She was in the store dropping off promotional posters for an upcoming fundrais ing gala to be held at the Dayton Masonic Center entitled “Catwalk at the Meowlin Rouge” to be held Jan. 25.
The store is located on the east side of the Dayton Mall walkway adjacent to Sears.
