OU grad brings taste of big city to Athens

by Brynn Burton
Staff Writer

Walking down Court Street, one is lured in by the array of chic home furnishings and other novelties in the window. Urban lamps, wine racks, kits for growing vegetables and mirrors in the shape of a face with wire hair beckon. There are even handmade skirts, beauty products and gifts for the poshest pooch in Athens.

But OU students and Athens residents probably would not be able to purchase such eclectic items without Jennifer Messina, the OU graduate who owns Bungalow's, 8 S. Court St.

Messina thought of the idea for the store one day in 1998 when she was driving to Pier 1 Imports with her husband, David. She thought Athens needed its own version of Pier 1.

"I sat down and just started brainstorming all types of ideas for a name," she said. "To this day I can't even remember how many I thought of or what they even were. When I came up with the name 'Bungalow's;' there was no more thinking. Everyone I asked said 'That's it!'"

Messina should know what Athens residents like - she was born and raised in town. After high school, she first attended Miami University, but left after a car accident. She enrolled at OU, which was a big change for Messina, even though she had grown up in Athens.

"I still felt that I was away, but I never left home," Messina said. "A lot of my friends left Athens to go to school elsewhere and I met people from different places."

Messina graduated from OU in 1996 with a business degree. That year, she started her career as an entrepreneur when she and her husband opened a food cart named Simply Sylvia's in the Five on Court building.

"My parents owned a restaurant named Sylvia's (4 Depot St.) so we got the idea to set up shop," Messina said. "It was a good experience for me right after school; we ran it for two years."

Owning Athens businesses runs in the family. Messina's uncle, Keith Chapman, owns Keith Chapman Custom Jewelers, 8 S. Court St., next to Bungalow's. Chapman owns the space where Bungalow's is located, and Messina's mother, Sherri, works at Chapman jewelers.

Messina is expanding Bungalow's and moving the shop to 60 N. Court St., a gray house between Dave's BP and the Court Street Collection. She said she plans to expand her staff and to increase the store's hours after the move.

"The new space gives me the opportunity to sell a new range of products including more home furnishings and deck ware," she said.

Messina is able to carry such a wide variety of items because she buys from about 55 retailers and several stores.

"I used to go on an average of three buying trips per year, in large cities such as Chicago," she said "But since we have become more successful, and the store's name is out and around, I only have to make one trip a year."

Because she brings in items from big cities, Messina provides an urban atmosphere for local shoppers.

"I like the boutique style of the store," OU freshman Anne Hockman said. "The owner makes it look like a New York boutique in the middle of Athens. The feel of the store is different than any other store in Athens."

OU senior Shannon Feehan has been working at Bungalow's since Fall Quarter. She said Messina is more than just an entrepreneur.

"She is a great owner and leader in the community," Feehan said. "She is always donating for charity raffles."

Messina herself said she is proud of what she has created in her store. "I can honestly say that I love getting up every day and going to work," she said.