Erica Rose first visited Chautauqua County in 2008 – and found herself drawn back here after finishing college. Erica is a social media management and marketing strategist and also brings her entrepreneurial spirit to Jamestown through the opening of Rose and Grace Studio, a naturally lit studio space available for rent in the heart of the city. She lives in the city with her daughter, two cats, and a dog, Arya – a rescue from Northern Chautauqua Canine Rescue in Westfield.
Erica said she loved the activities and events the area offers and decided to settle down here and plant roots.
“I loved the multiple events there were always going on here,” she said. “It truly was a spot to vacation that matched my energy level of an active lifestyle. We would go boating on Lake Chautauqua, and attend the many festivals that were offered. One of my first ones was the Arts and Crafts Festival in Westfield.”
Erica is originally from Binghamton but has lived in Manhattan, Rochester, and the outskirts of Buffalo.
“One of my favorite places was always Rochester,” she said. “Comparing CHQ to Rochester, I would say they offer similar lifestyles with the events and the lake life. The biggest difference is how Chautauqua gives more of a community feeling, less congested city offerings and closer milage-wise to get from one location to another, providing the lake life, the country lifestyle, small-town vibes, and city experiences with the arts.”
Erica said one of the area’s biggest draws is the ease of starting a business here. She said the guidance and education available in the area were “top-notch,” allowing her to build a strong foundation for future growth with her LLC, XO. Erica Rose LLC. Within the LLC, Erica said she operates two local businesses: Social Media Management, which allows her to support the local community by marketing businesses through brand awareness and building an engaging social media community with their target audiences; and Rose & Grace Studio, which offers a platform for all creators to create, from photography to workshops and classes.
Erica said her social media management businesses is a way to highlight and support businesses she loves in the area, while Rose & Grace Studio had a “bigger city” inspiration she knew Chautauqua County needed for the creatives in our midsts. All of these developments were possible due to the opportunities available here in Chautauqua County.
“The network of people I have crossed paths with has helped create my next step within my business – they have been ideal-driven, action step oriented and out-of-the-box thinkers,” she said. “The affordability of building the businesses allowed me to execute my ideas faster and allows me to service outside of Chautauqua areas with the competitive rates of surrounding cities.”
Raising a family in the county is a wonderful experience, as she has found a variety of opportunities for her daughter to try and enjoy, including sports, clubs, and arts. Erica said some of their favorite pastimes in Jamestown include visiting The Pine Cone for dairy-free ice cream, taking shows at the Lucille Ball Little Theatre, and shopping at Art and Cloth Craft. She said her daughter is looking forward to auditioning for the next children’s show at the Little Theatre in the near future.
However, Jamestown isn’t the only community in the county they spend time in. Erica said they love visiting Westfield, including Barcelona Beach and the weekly farmers market. If they’re not browsing local produce or catching rays at the beach, they also enjoy Camp CHQ to catch up with friends or take a boat ride.
“We tend to visit Bemus Point to enjoy their shops, where we frequently visit the Tap House for dinner and GI Threads for their great clothing choices,” she said. “We also enjoy outdoors, hiking and hammock camping – our frequently visited spots have been Panama Rocks, Long Point State Park, and Cusimano Overland Trail. For our kayak adventures, we like to head to Allegheny River, Lake Chautauqua, or Lake Erie.”
The lake life vibe is a big draw to the area, Erica said.
“I absolutely love the lake life provided here – we are always on vacation,” she said. “When it is time to step away from my business day, I can easily get into family time. We have access to all the activities we enjoy without having to leave the city, driving hours to capture the ‘cottage/lake life memories.'”
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