Women-owned businesses enrich Erie’s cultural and economic landscape, making up 30% of Erie County businesses and an impressive 40% in downtown Erie. Throughout the region, women-led businesses form a vibrant community, from restaurants and coffee shops to wineries and boutiques. Meet the women behind five must-visit spots and discover the passion, creativity, and hustle driving their success.

Give A Crepe La CrepErie
A creperie in a city like Erie adds a touch of big-city sophistication to the local food scene. At Give A Crepe, savory and sweet crepes are expertly crafted using fresh ingredients from local vendors, and owner Stephani Klassen takes pride in customizing each crepe to suit any dietary need, offering dairy-free cheeses, gluten-free products, and even vegan chocolate.  

Meet the Owner/Chef: Stephani Klassen

• Opened: Debuted in 2016 as a pop-up, and expanded to a brick and mortar location in 2019
• Background: With a bachelor of arts degree in hospitality, Stephani honed her skills while managing Bertrand’s Bistro, a former French restaurant in Erie. She experimented with crepe recipes later, perfecting them at the former Virgil’s Plate restaurant.
• Why Crepes? “I spun one out once while at Bertrand’s. It was horrible but I was in love. Spinning out Crêpes made sense to me, so I started writing recipes and testing them publicly.”
• If your crepes could tell a story, what would they say? “They would tell stories of love, travel, family, traditions, laughing, growth, and art.”

Pressed Books + Café + Gifts
When visiting Pressed, it’s immediately clear where you are: a progressive bookstore with a penchant for quirky gifts and good coffee. The store has a strong sense of space, with curated displays often highlighting social issues (think banned books), celebrating holidays, and featuring local authors. Owner Tracy Bowes is committed to sustainability, with efforts to minimize waste in both the store and cafe. Pressed is located across the street from Frontier Park, making it an ideal setting to grab a book and a drink to enjoy under a canopy of trees.

Meet the Owner: Tracey Bowes

• Opened: April 2018
• Background: Tracey relocated to Erie in 2003 with her husband from Richmond, Virginia. A former litigation lawyer, Tracey left her law career to answer a personal calling to open a neighborhood bookstore.
• Why a bookstore? “Bookstores are magical. I've always loved books and have never been satisfied with digital alternatives. There's nothing like the feel of opening a new book for the first time with a story to take you into another place, another life.”
• How did you come up with the name Pressed? “The name 'Pressed' is a result of the common term between bookstores and coffee shops: the printing press and the coffee French press.”

Dollhouse at Pointe Foure Vintage Boutique
Rooted in sustainable fashion and community-building, The Dollhouse at Pointe Foure offers locally sourced vintage gems, promotes secondhand shopping, and encourages customers to embrace the D.O.L.L. philosophy: Dare to Own a Life they Love. This vintage-meets-modern boutique in downtown Erie is more than a shop; it’s a space to empower women through fashion.

Meet the Owner: Emily Lynn George

• Opened: 2013  
• Background: Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising degrees plus two decades of retail/fashion management
• What fuels your passion? “It’s about curating a golden shopping experience, celebrating the beauty of secondhand, locally sourced vintage fashion and discovering styles that build confidence.”
• What inspires you? “The thrill of finding pre-loved pieces and connecting clients with treasures that resonate with them. I’m honored to hear the stories behind each piece and ensure they’re passed on to new owners who will cherish them just as much.”

Lucky Louie’s Beer & Wieners
With an unapologetically quirky vibe, a killer lineup of craft beers, and creative wieners piled high with unexpected toppings, Lucky Louie’s takes Erie-made Smith’s hot dogs to flavorful heights. Here, your topping choice goes far past simple ketchup or mustard. At Lucky Louie’s, Katie is doing things her way, serving up dogs in all flavors – like The Yinzer, loaded with seven different toppings including kraut and pierogis, or the Happy Ending, a skewered, bacon-wrapped hot dog coated in brown sugar and blowtorched.

Meet the Owner/Chef: Katie Schmid

• Opened: 2011
• Background: Experience in various restaurant roles, including Ponderosa Steakhouse, Quaker Steak & Lube, and Applebee’s. Originally set on law school, Katie swapped the courtroom for the kitchen to bring creative flair to the humble hot dog.
• What’s the weirdest but most delicious topping you’ve ever tried on a hot dog, and did you keep it on the menu? “Cream cheese. I heard about a Seattle dog that had cream cheese and onions, so I added it to the menu and it’s one of our best-sellers.”
• If you could only eat one of your hot dogs for the rest of your life, which one would it be and why? “The Asian Invasion - The crunch of the cabbage and rice noodles with the burning sensation from the wasabi horseradish is so craveable to me.”

Jade Winery
Nestled amongst scenic farmland outside of Waterford, Erie County’s newest winery has a speakeasy feel in the lower level of the owner’s home. For Carlie and co-owner husband Derek, operating Jade Winery is truly a family affair, with Derek making the wine and Carlie handling creative. Carlie takes a lot of pride in their Concord Wine, an Erie staple but with a distinctive, less sweet flavor at Jade Winery, with a taste as if the grapes were just plucked from the vine.

Meet the Owner: Carlie Brown

• Opened: November 2022
• Background: Carlie previously directed a childcare center and uses those business management and marketing skills to run the winery with her husband, Derek.
• Why a winery and how did it get the name Jade? “We chose a winery because of the passion for wine that my husband and I share. Derek and his brother Jason started making wine together, so Ja from Jason and De from Derek.”
• What experience do you want visitors to have at Jade? “It’s all about family. Our quaint space is family-friendly with a welcoming atmosphere, inviting loved ones to gather over wine or juice and create lasting memories.”