These 4 New Bedford businesses are tucked away where you may not find them — till now

NEW BEDFORD — There are some businesses that are impossible to miss; that just about every local resident is bound to pass by in their routine comings and goings at some point. Then, there are some located more out-of-the-way; where, if you don't have an inside scoop, you might miss out altogether.

Join us as we take a look at four such businesses, which may not get the level of exposure that their more visible counterparts do, but offer something that may be worth a slight detour off the beaten path.

A Little of This-N-That, 79 Brook St.

Located in an old mill building on a stretch of Brook Street cut off from any main throughways, A Little of This-N-That might as well be miles away from the bustling near-North End section of Ashley Boulevard just one block down. Unless they're connected to the neighborhood or happen to use this odd part of Brook Street as a shortcut, it may be an unlikelihood for most to come across it naturally.

And with virtually no internet presence, there's not many other ways they'd know about it.

"I'm retired. It's not about making a lot of money — it's more of a hobby," said owner Richard Cruz, who's been at the location about a year-and-a-half.

For those who do happen to stop by, entering the door furthest left and venturing up the staircase to the second floor will reveal a little-known treasure trove of collectibles, from sports to pop culture, toys and beyond.

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For those unable to come by, Cruz says he'll come to them in his This-N-That van, packed up with whatever selection of collectibles, or men's/women's clothing one might be interested in browsing through.

A Little of This-N-That is open Monday-Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. most days. If interested in browsing his selection, asking about what's in stock, or if you think you may have items Cruz would be interested in, walk right in or call 508-287-1215.

New Bedford Soap Company, 345 Cedar St.

When Brenda Levasseur had breast cancer in 2005, she changed her eating habits to detoxify her body. The problem then was, "I started having a reaction to my soap," she said, as she discovered her unnatural soaps weren't agreeing with her new natural diet. This led Levasseur to start making her own from all-natural materials said to be beneficial for a variety of purposes. Wanting to share her discoveries and craft with others, she eventually formed the New Bedford Soap Company.

"I used to do this at home in my basement in Dartmouth, then it was the garage, but it got too big," Levasseur said, noting she moved into her current West End location around 2016.

According to Levasseur, her products are crafted using the "cold process" method, which, unlike most options in the average chain store soap aisle, entails that nothing is heated up and melted down while the product is being made. Thus, every ingredient incorporated remains in its most natural form.

Aside from soaps, New Bedford Soap Company carries face creams, scrubs, body lotions, cuticle balms and more.

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If interested in learning more about New Bedford Soap Company and its products, visit online at www.newbedfordsoapcompany.com, or call 774-263-8788. Levasseur advises calling before stopping by her Cedar Street shop to confirm it is open.

Little Phoenix Restaurant, 4128 Acushnet Ave.

It may be odd to see an Acushnet Avenue business here, but unless your travels bring you far enough up, there's a good chance even longtime locals haven't been familiarized with this well-kept neighborhood secret of New Bedford's far North End.

Longtime restaurateur and Westport native Sarah Simmons opened the Little Phoenix in 1997 after the success of her first restaurant in Fairhaven, the Phoenix.

"It's the most quaint and personal restaurant that I've opened," Simmons said of Little Phoenix. "It's so far north that our business tends to be repeat customers, local people. I see some customers two, sometimes three times a day."

Simmons says some favorites among regulars include the veggie omelette, meatloaf omelette, homemade hash, and a surprising selection of creative eggs Benedict variations.

"We've done cacoila benedict, scallops, lobster — whatever we have we make it into a 'bennie' and people just love it," she said.

In addition, Simmons also operates a growing mobile component, having converted some of her old horse trailers into food carts. So far, she has the "Boujie Bar" specializing in blended fruit smoothies and other frozen treats; "Phoenix On The Go" with its fully equipped kitchen; and the soon-to-come "Easy Beans" trailer, which will serve cold brew and hot coffees of many varieties, as well as boba tea.

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To see menus, hours or learn more about any of the Phoenix food carts, visit www.littlephoenixma.com, or call 508-998-7551.

Divine Massage, 173 Parker St.

Located at the intersection of quiet Caroline Street, Divine Massage's New Bedford location is owner Debbie Bolton's second spot, opened in 2016 to keep up with growing clientele, after launching her original Mattapoisett business in 2010.

"I understood that when people have a sore back they want to be seen now, or at least within a day or two, so this is why we have multiple therapists on staff," she said, noting same-day appointments are usually available.

Bolton, who started getting massage therapy for back problems on a doctor's recommendation, says the type of treatment she received helped her "immensely," leading to her wanting to offer that relief to others.

Bolton said Divine Massage therapists are able to provide specialized services based on individual needs, and some may be surprised by the types of issues specific massage methods address.

"We have 8-10 therapists on staff and do everything from relaxation massage to cupping, sports and deep tissue," she said, also noting certification in prenatal massage, infant massage, lymphatic drainage, which Bolton notes is especially handy for post-surgery patients, and more.

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"One of our most popular services is the 'All About Me' which includes a 75-minute combo therapeutic/deep tissue massage, scented towels, heat pack, CBD cream for the stubborn areas, hot stones, a five-minute scalp massage, and a 10-minute sugar foot scrub with one of our lavender, cashmere or coconut scrubs."

To learn more about Divine Massage services and availability, visit www.divinemassagema.com, call the New Bedford location at 508-933-9504, or Mattapoisett (34 Barstow St.) at 508-933-4935.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 4 New Bedford businesses worth going out-of-the-way for