By Jennie Callison
Enquirer contributor

Chicken 'rightout of the fryer'

OXFORD - Chicken dinners have replaced donuts at a storefront here.

Mak's Chicken has taken over the space at 120 S. Locust St. formerly occupied by the Oxford Donut Shop. The eatery serves fried chicken with baked beans, coleslaw and mashed potatoes. There is some seating in the shop, but Mak's focuses on take-out and delivery services.

"We cook to order, and the chicken is right out of the fryer," said co-owner Amy Wisecup.

Wisecup and her husband Mike have involved their two children in the enterprise, and the company name reflects the collaboration: "Mak" stands for Mike, Amy and kids. The Wisecups owned the Oxford Pit Stop Drive Thru for five years.

Currently, hours are 3-10 p.m. every day. Mak's expects to expand into lunchtime business by the end of October.

Information: 523-6009.

New cosmetics lineadjusts by skin type

SPRINGFIELD TWP. - A former model is bringing her ideas about beauty to an upscale new line of cosmetics.

Yolanda Webb has launched E'LON Cosmetics, which consist of custom-blended foundations, coordinating color palettes and skin care products tailored for specific skin types. She worked with a California-based cosmetics company to develop these private-label products.

The salon, which can schedule private demonstrations for customers, will open Nov. 15 at 8436 Vine St.

Information: 931-1256.

Batteries Plus chain opens store

SHARONVILLE - A high-energy concept in retailing has arrived here.

Batteries Plus, a national retail chain, has opened a store at 4782 Fields Ertel Road. The company bills itself as a one-stop source for all battery needs, and the store carries thousands of batteries for items including watches, electronic voice boxes, flashlights, buses and trucks.

"In an age of increased portability, our society is dependent on batteries," said Gary Little, franchise owner.

The company also offers reconditioning and rebuilding services for old batteries and can rebuild battery packs for laptop computers, scientific instruments and surveying equipment.

Little said that a customer can save 15 to 20 percent by having a battery pack rebuilt rather than purchasing a new one.

Store hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Information: 683-6300.

GFS Marketplace has bulk groceries

BRIDGETOWN - Another GFS Marketplace store has opened in Greater Cincinnati, joining sibling outlets in Glen Este, Fairfield and Deerfield Township.

Tony Glass is the manager of the new store, located at 3825 Race Road. It is about 14,000 square feet. It caters to individuals as well as to food service providers such as restaurants, day care operators and convenience stores. There is a commercial discount program for businesses and nonprofits.

Inventory includes produce, dairy, standard grocery, frozen, paper and janitorial products in larger pack sizes. There is no membership cost.

GFS Marketplace is the retail arm of Gordon Food Service, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based distributor of food service products to restaurants, schools and other food purveyors in the United States.

Store hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Information: 574-0888.

Tax and accounting firm opens office

ROSELAWN - ComPro-Tax, a tax and accounting firm, has established a new location here.

The company, which has 89 locations in nine states, has grown its Cincinnati location at the Cincinnati Business Incubator. That location will continue to operate by appointment.

The new office is at 7610 Reading Road, Suite 3. It provides computerized tax preparation services for individuals and small businesses, along with bookkeeping services and small business consulting.

"Our company offers a friendly alternative in tax preparation, a community spirit with heavy involvement in the community," said Robin Lewis, owner of the Cincinnati office. "We are here to assist individuals and small businesses with all their tax and financial needs."

The company offers courses for people who would like to become tax preparers.

Information: 948-1829

E-mail jcallison@zoomtown .com or fax 564-6991 with openings, expansions and other news about neighborhood businesses.