Press Releases / News

Teamwork Bringing Night Life Business to St. Clairsville

Friday, April 19, 2024

Photo Caption: Left to Right: Derek Simpson, Retail Banking Executive Unified Bank; Audrey Brahler, Owner of Audrey’s Avenue; Cindy Voorhies, Certified Business Advisor Ohio Small Business Development Center; George Dolney, Revolving Loan Specialist OMEGA, and Michael Goclan, Senior Commercial Banking Executive Unified Bank.

 Local entrepreneur and business developer Audrey Brahler plans to bring nightlife back to the City of St. Clairsville. She plans to open Audrey’s Avenue on Main Street as early as June. Nestled in a quaint and stylish space complete with gothic pillars, a hand-crafted walnut slab bar, and an old-world atmosphere, Audrey’s Avenue will be a sit-down restaurant and bar with seating for 44 people.

Brahler is already a successful business owner in St. Clairsville with the well-liked Giacinta’s Gelato & Café. Giacenta’s opened in October of 2021, and public opinion has been nothing but favorable. As the old saying goes, “Success breeds success.” But every success is backed by advice, experience, and a little help. In this case, that came from a group of well-trained community leaders from Unified Bank, the Ohio Small Business Development Center, OMEGA (Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association), and the Ohio Department of Development.

“I couldn’t have done this without the help of some really wonderful advisors and financial backers,” said Brahler. “I owe much thanks to the people, businesses, and agencies who helped me along the way and continue to help,” Brahler added. Michael Goclan, Senior Commercial Banking Executive Unified Bank, Derek Simpson, Retail Banking Executive Unified Bank, Cindy Voorhies, Certified Business Advisor Ohio Small Business Development Center, George Dolney, Revolving Loan Specialist OMEGA and Natalie Burley, Deputy Chief of Financial Programs and Incentives / Minority Business Development Division Ohio Department of Development all worked together on the Audrey’s Avenue project.

“Putting together this group of leaders was exciting; we worked together as a team to put together the best financing for Audrey’s new business venture,” said Cindy Voorhies with the Ohio Small Business Development Center.

Michael Goclan of Unified Bank said, “I love helping businesses grow and achieve success. I take the time to understand where my customers are and where they want to go. Every so often, there is a perfect storm scenario where I can work with government agencies like the SBDC, ODD, OCAP, and OMEGA to make dreams come true.”

Unified Bank is a full-service Member FDIC-insured, state-chartered commercial bank headquartered in Martins Ferry, OH and has eighteen locations that serve the Ohio counties of Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Fairfield, Harrison, Hocking, Jefferson and Tuscarawas and Marshall County in West Virginia. Unified Bank is the sole operating subsidiary of United Bancorp, Inc. (UBCP), a publicly-traded bank holding company, and has been serving the financial needs of the Ohio Valley since 1902 from its headquarters in Martins Ferry, Ohio.