Amazon Hose and Rubber – Analog Artist Digital World

The Spiral Circle in its Mills/50 Location

(750 N Thornton Ave
Orlando, Florida) was founded on May 16th, 1975 by Beverly and William Ford. It is Orlando’s oldest running spiritual book store. I got a call from Julie Norris Wilder letting me know that the store was going to change hands. Julie was one of the founders of Dandelion Communitea Cafe only a block away from Spiral Circle . She explained that on the day she was looking for a location for Dandelion, she entered Spiral Circle and she was told that her destiny was not far away. When she left Spiral she drove down the street and saw that the Building Dandelion now occupies was for sale.When she had her daughter Maya there was a court case that ultimately lead to Julie leaving Dandelion and Orlando. I partnered with Julie on a calendar a few years ago and I got to see first hand her tenacious creative spirit. In this new business venture at Spiral Circle she has partnered with Summer Rodman.

Summer is the CEO of Amazon Hose and Rubber which has been in business in Orlando for over 100 years. Summer’s Grandmother ran the business, then her mother and now Summer is at it’s reins. When Julie contacted me I hoped to sketch the new owners signing the paperwork for the building. Unfortunately work kept me from sketching that signing at about noon. After work, I drove right over to Spiral Circle to sketch the building. A sign in the window announced that the business was closed. I figured everyone must have gone home after the business changed hands. As I worked on the sketch of the building someone drove up beside me and rolled down her window. She asked me if the Spiral Circle was open. I said that the sign on the window said it was closed and left it at that. She decided to park anyway and walked up to the entry since this was the time of day she usually stopped by to get her incense. Maya opened the door and soon Julie greeted me and offered me some water while I sketched. William Ford, the original owner of the spiritual bookstore exited the front door and Julie introduced me to him. He seemed a bit misty eyed as he left this spiritual home behind.

A new sketch opportunity presented itself since Summer was going to stop by and they were going to sign the business agreements. May was tasked with shooting photos of the occasion while I sketched. She stood on a chair to get an aerial shot and must have taken 50 shots of the historic signing. The phone kept ringing and Maya answered, making it clear that the circle was unbroken and business was already in full swing. The documents being signed needed the signature of a witness so I ended up adding my signature to the documents that cemented the start of this auspicious new venture. I felt a thrill that I was documenting a truly historic moment with my sketch.

I am excited by what can be found on their calendar, there are Angel Communication Sessions, Numerologist and Wellness Coaching, Bio-Field Integrative Arcing Light Chakra Balancing, Attunements and Intuitive Energy Healing and a Tibetan Meditation Group. The opportunities for spiritual self growth fascinate me.

Julie’s enthusiasm for this new venture is so contagious… “My heart is full. My new business partner is, like, the BEST ever. The
people I work with daily are incredible humans. My kid impresses me
always. My sweet romance gets sweeter by the day. I’ve been reconnecting
with so many people just by being at Spiral. I get to source and shift
dollars into ethical and fair companies, mostly woman-owned, often
independent. I’m so passionate about doing right by the land, one
another and respecting cultures around the world and now I get to bring
sacred offerings to our community with the same discerning eye that I
had at Dandelion for ingredient sourcing. I am so grateful and thrilled this is my new reality.” Clearly this place will be a home base for a growing community here in Orlando. I find Spiral Circle inspiring as an artist who hopes there is still magic and mystery in the world.

While driving to the College Park Jazz Festival, I noticed that Amazon Hose and Rubber will be moving from the warehouse they have occupied for years. The current location is 1625 West Princeton Street Orlando, Florida and the new Location (Coming January 2014) will be 4105 Seaboard Rd Orlando, Florida. The current location was always easy to spot since there is an old water tower behind it and the front facade is covered with a colorful mural that showcases Florida wildlife.

Summer Rodman is the president of this family owned business started
started by her grandfather Harry Jacoby back in
1919. Her grandmother Lorena did collections and worked int he office until
she took over in 1973 after his death. She was a little blond with a
big personality and many of the long time players in the industry still
remember her. Lorena ran this male-dominated business
at a time when a woman had many more challenges than now, and she not
only succeeded but set an example of leadership, dedication and the
pursuit of superior customer satisfaction. Summers mother ran the business for years and still consults. Though the business started small, it is now grosses over 11 million dollars by supplying Central Florida’s hose needs. They also serve national and international orders thanks to the Internet. It was ranked as one of the Top 5 Women owned Businesses in Central Florida by the Orlando Business Journal.

There is a counter at the front entrance of the current location where costumers can sit to wait for their hose order to be filled. Construction workers and do it yourselfers constantly muscled up to the counter. Staff would scour the warehouse which is like the Library of Congress for hoses. Row after row of shelving housed every kind of hose and bracket.