1. LAST Art Gallery
Upon entering LAST Art Gallery in downtown McKinney, guests will find themselves surrounded by a medley of visual diversity. Displayed on walls, shelves and swaying from the ceiling are sculptures, ceramics, paintings, jewelry and more in the 4,000-square-foot artists’ destination.
2. Daydream Hair Studio
The owners of Daydream Hair Studio in East McKinney started their own salon after failing to find an existing salon where they loved to work, co-owner Demi Rowe said. Rowe, along with Elyse Heijligers and Jessica Dickerson, opened Daydream Hair Studio in May 2021.
3. Mr. Handyman of Midwest Collin County
Mr. Handyman of Midwest Collin County has found success in the home services business through continued training and staffing, owner and President Cindy Parks-Talley said. She opened the franchise in 2005, offering full-service home repairs and maintenance, and found then that staffing was her biggest challenge.
4. Grady Ln Boutique
Hallie Wooddell, owner of Grady Ln Boutique, purchased the first products and started her store using the last paycheck she got from her nine-to-five day job, she said. Grady Ln Boutique is a size-inclusive apparel and accessories store focusing on trendy styles that fall into the store’s specifically curated aesthetic
5. Osteostrong
Ellen Allam’s own health concerns inspired her to open Osteostrong in McKinney in September 2021. Allam was diagnosed with osteopenia and osteoporosis, two conditions that affect bone mass and density. While researching alternatives to bone density medications, she found Osteostrong, a skeletal strengthening program.
6. Birds and Words
In 2017, the entrepreneurial quartet of Scott and Liz Conn along with their son Colin Conn and daughter-in-law Allison Conn, opened Birds & Words in downtown McKinney. The store’s inventory comprises vintage, homemade and wholesale items. It encompasses a variety of styles, such as whimsical, French country and industrial.
7. Tutor Doctor
Tutor Doctor franchise owner Sandy Tutwiler has been a tutor since she was in high school. She purchased the Little Elm franchise of Tutor Doctor, an in-home tutoring service, four years ago, and now serves McKinney, Frisco, Prosper, Little Elm, Plano and surrounding areas.
8. Top Dog Pet Sitters
Erick and Susan Gary have lived in McKinney since 1997 and opened Top Dog Pet Sitters in 2015. Top Dog Pet Sitters cares for all domestic pets. In addition to requests for dog and cat sitting, they have added snakes, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and rats to the list.
9. The Fit Pelvis
When Katy Girlinghouse opened The Fit Pelvis in 2020, she did so to fill a void as well as provide healing to others like what she experienced herself. While working as a physical therapist for five years, she repeatedly saw women who had back and hip pain but were not getting better with normal physical therapy treatments.
10. Locomotion E-Bikes
A background in electrical engineering and an interest in bicycling led Dave Belanger to open Locomotion E-Bikes in McKinney. An e-bike has a motor and battery, Belanger explained, adding that they provide assistance to the rider, allowing them to ride against the wind easier or cover more distance.
