Downtown Suffolk was busy with celebrations Saturday morning, as three new businesses marked their grand openings, all within a block of each other and all taking place within a half hour of each other.

Simply Susan’s Bakery and Café, Serendipity Hair Salon and All About Virginia & More each held ribbon-cutting ceremonies attended by a cadre of city officials who walked from one site to the next carrying the special scissors and ribbon preferred for such occasions by the folks in Suffolk’s Economic Development Department.

“We thought we’d get more bang for our buck” by holding all three ceremonies on the same morning, Economic Development Director Kevin Hughes said as he prepared to walk from the first ceremony, held at Simply Susan’s, to the second, held at Serendipity. “And all (of the businesses) opened at about the same time.”

There was a sidewalk-choking crowd on hand for the 10 a.m. ceremony at Simply Susan’s, located at 149 North Main St., where balloons marked the festive occasion, employees distributed samples and family members handed out free raffle tickets.

“God has allowed me to have this opportunity,” owner Susan Glover said before the ceremonial ribbon-cutting. She thanked Him and her family and friends for all their help and support in opening the business, which sells, pies, cakes, muffins, cheesecakes and caramel popcorn with chocolate drizzle, along with specialty coffee from Lexington Roasters.

The business will also accept catering and custom orders, as well, and will be open Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Thank you for your investment,” Suffolk City Councilman Charles Parr said as he joined Glover and others in cutting the ribbon.

Fifteen or so minutes later, Parr, City Councilman Mike Duman, Sheriff Raleigh Isaacs and a crew from the Economic Development Department joined LaTroy Brinkley at his new 113 W. Washington St. location of Serendipity Hair Salon.

Brinkley, a renowned stylist, offers hair styling and beauty treatments, including makeup application, brow shaping and skin care in the full-service salon, which relocated to the newly renovated building from a previous location on Main Street.

“Special thanks to everybody in Suffolk that helped me with this move,” Brinkley said. “The process went very quick. I’m looking forward to the upcoming (West Washington Street) corridor, and next door to the (C3 Vino) wine shop, of course, is a good spot.”

Prior to the ceremony, Brinkley, who was born and raised in Suffolk, shared another bit of exciting news: He is working to open a satellite salon in Richmond in October, and he hopes to turn his brand into a chain of salons.

“Thank you for staying in Suffolk,” Parr said, as participants prepared to cut the ribbon.

Back around the corner, at 120 N. Main St., Karen and William James were busy preparing for the next celebration at All About Virginia & More, the second and newest location of a retail chain they own.

“We’re glad to be here — glad to be a part of Suffolk,” Karen James said, noting that the company’s other location is in Norfolk.

The business offers Virginia-made and Virginia-related gift items. Shoppers can find nautical items, wine glasses and accessories, gourmet foods, flip-flops, gifts and souvenirs, along with a selection of Virginia college, NASCAR and NFL-themed items.

“Thank you for choosing to come to Suffolk,” Parr said. “Now we can get coffee and scones, get our hair cut and then get gifts to send off to friends.”