Dec 10, 2007

Friends Take ‘Leap Of Faith,’ Buy Eclectic Gift ShopBy Jo Ann JohnstonTBO.com

Dade City – You could call it “Margaret and Brenda’s excellent adventure,” the tale of two middle-aged women who took an unanticipated career turn into retailing just as the pivotal holiday-shopping season unfolds.

Margaret Angell and Brenda Tester, both in their 50s, became friends years ago at church. A little more than two months ago, they became the owners of Heavenly Treasures & Angel Tea Room, one of Dade City’s eclectic shops.

“This is a leap of faith, literally,” said Tester, who works as a dental hygienist in Brandon.

“I’m kind of going on instinct, and what I like, what appeals to me, is good service,” said Tester. “We’re going to be making mistakes, like everybody else. I just hope it’s not too costly.”

Angell has the right name for the business but an unusual background for it.

For more than 25 years, she has owned and operated Angell Investigative Services in Dade City, where she helps find evidence on cheating spouses, thieving employees and even violent criminals. Before starting her own company, she was a law enforcement officer.

Through the years, Angell developed an appreciation for quieter pursuits. She found she enjoyed collecting teapots and cups, the kind that can be found in antique shops and at yard sales.

When she met Tester at church in 1996, they forged a friendship over their interest in collectibles.

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