Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs: Melissa Fabian

For both of her businesses—Simply Nourished and Foxtrot Properties—Melissa Fabian was inspired by a need in the community. 

“Access to nutritious, specialty, organic and pesticide-free foods, and giving a place for local producers to sell their product year-round has been a big impact,” Fabian said. “Also a place to get high-quality kitchenware that can’t be found anywhere else.”

While Simply Nourished focuses on providing access to organic, specialty and local food, and helping outfit your kitchen with the best kitchen and housewares products through an extraordinary shopping experience, Foxtrot Properties focuses on restoring and developing properties into unique and energy-efficient commercial and residential spaces in downtown Mason City.

It’s important to her to not only help the customers, makers, and producers at Simply Nourished but also to help preserve and transform buildings so they’ll be around for 100 more years.

Watching buildings crumble from neglect and disrepair has always weighed on Fabian’s heart. “The ability to save buildings and bring them back to life is hopefully playing a part in the future success and beautification of our downtown district.”

Fabian takes pride in building personal relationships and community for both businesses.

“We are placemaking for our commercial spaces and allowing people to find affordable housing downtown,” she said. “Simply Nourished itself is a gathering place, and helping people and connecting them to what they need is what we do.”

Her biggest challenge? Starting a business for the first time during COVID. “I think I learned to go with the flow and pivot, needing to utilize what was available with supply shortages,” she said.

With the help of Main Street Mason City, the North Iowa Council of Governments, the Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, and the Small Business Development Center, she was able to develop a successful business plan.

Fabian wants aspiring business owners to know Mason City is a great place to do business. “Utilize the tools and resources available and jump!” she said.

ABOUT THIS SERIES: Here in Mason City, we are proud to celebrate the women at the heart of the Main Street Mason City district, whose businesses not only add vitality to our downtown but also serve as cornerstones for growth, creativity, and connection. Follow along as we shine a spotlight on the innovative, resilient, and inspiring women entrepreneurs of our community.