If you’re like me you’ve driven past a small building near the corner of Cedar St. and 4th St. many times but have given little thought of what was inside of it.  This little shop has a big heart and has products shipped all over the country.

Jamie Balfanz graduated from Western University with a degree in business management.  But in 2014 there weren’t many jobs in the area that would fit her skillset and she didn’t want to leave the Chillicothe area.  This caused a problem and Jamie would soon find a solution.

Jamie said that as a kid growing up in Chillicothe, she was always a bit picky about her clothes and that she and her mom would sometimes make custom shirt designs to fit her teenage needs.  She admits growing up she was a bit a clothes hoarder and enjoyed one-of-a-kind shirts.  One day while traveling back from school, she drove through Farmington, and she noticed a silk-screening business for sale.  Jamie and her mom decided to buy the equipment and they moved it to Chillicothe.  She combined her degree in business management and her experience of customizing her on shirts, to create “Route 29 Apparel”.   

Since the start of the business in April of 2014, she has expanded into Banners, yard signs, truck decals and lettering and promotional items.  She prefers to do as much work “in house” to assure the quality of her work.  She Shipps her products all over the country including New York, Hawaii, and California. 

It’s been 10.5 years since Jamie started Route 29 Apparel and in October, she’ll be marrying her sweetheart, Jake.  There’s been a lot of change since college, but it seems to be working out for her.

The next time you or your team decide to proudly display your team’s logo, company name, or just a custom design, call or stop by Route 29 Apparel.  They’re located here in Chillicothe at 417 W Cedar St. Jamie will assure the quality of you want at a reasonable price.