Urban Escape Inc.

Amy Spadafora was looking for a career change. While she loved her work as a recreational therapist for kids with special needs, her job was beginning to wear her down. "I had been talking to women in business for about five years to see what they liked about it and what they didn’t like," Amy says. Someone suggested Amy speak with the two ladies who ran a business called Urban Escape in Sarnia. The owners have been running a very successful business for 14 years. "They had actually done some work at my house. I spoke to them because I was really ready for a career change. After I spoke to them they said, ‘We haven’t told anybody, but we are looking to sell our business.’ I have always liked style and fashion and home concept and creating your space how you like it."

Amy told her husband, Giovanni, that Urban Escape was for sale and after they investigated the business’s financials, they bought it in January of 2020. In the beginning, Amy ran the store and worked at her old job two days a week. "It was exciting, but a little scary because I was in a profession with a pension and vacation. Running a business is not for the faint of heart. To start off in a pandemic where everything that was traditionally done and the ebbs and flows of business had all changed made things difficult. I actually don’t know what it is like to run a business without a pandemic."Urban Escape sells a variety of women’s fashion items as well as home décor. "Because the store was such a sparkle in the downtown of Sarnia, I just couldn’t imagine it not being there," Amy says. "When the girls started it, it was really ahead of its time. It was before Urban Barn and Wayfair became popular. What I loved about the concept was everything in the store is unique. We curate and handpick every piece."

Amy insists she has no regrets about making her career change but says it has been challenging. "Running a business is really tricky," Amy says. "You walk into a store and think, ‘Oh, this would be so much fun to own.’ But you don’t see the hard work that goes on behind the scenes and the unconditional support you need from your family. People don’t see the tears and the worry and the stress. My husband has been so supportive. And our son, Giuliano, who is only nine, helps, too." Amy also has the support of two employees who have been by her side throughout the pandemic. On the days when Amy is stressed, she reminds herself of the greatest reward of owning and operating Urban Escape. "It is how proud my mom is of me," Amy says. "My mom worked her tail off for me and my brother. She always said to be a good person, work hard and in the end, it will pay off."