“I got a store.”

“You did what?”

That’s how Dimetrious Woods recalls the conversation when his close friend Anthony Belcher called recently to share some news.

The Mexico shop – Essentialz, billed as a neighborhood bodega – held its grand opening this week. It’s an eclectic place, offering everything from convenience store staples to water guns, backpacks, a line of clothing from Motivated, even hookahs.

But it’s not the concept of transforming an empty storefront next to Highway 54 Cafe that surprised Woods, it’s that Belcher was inspired by Woods’ Facebook posts. He started a successful auto detailing business, a food truck and the clothing line, all in Columbia and all since 2018.

“For my brother to believe in me,” Woods said, shaking his head as his voice trailed off.

Like Woods, Belcher fully understands the importance of taking risks. Although his announcement initially caught his friend off guard, the two joined forces to open Essentialz.

“This kind of came together,” Belcher explained. “But we had a lot of talk.”

The two had plenty of time to talk, to discuss how they could shape a future, how they could change lives – theirs and others. Woods and Belcher spent 10 years together in a maximum security prison.

“That created a bond,” Woods pointed out. “We grew through that.”

Woods served 11 years of a 25 year sentence for trafficking cocaine. In 2018 he was released on parole and, following a three year legal battle with the state that had him set for a return to prison, governor Mike Parson signed a limited commutation of the term.

Belcher was a teenager when sentenced to second degree murder in 1994 for his role in the deaths of a Mexico couple. He was released in March of last year.

He says that so much time behind bars – 25 years and six months in his case – can crush a person’s spirit if they let it happen. Developing a sense of purpose, of humanity and a determination to transform one’s life under such circumstances requires an internal toughness.

“Doing that much time has to count for something,” Belcher said.

Over ten years together, the two men picked each other up. Prison is a difficult place to find trust – both say that an overwhelming negativity smothers everything in that world, often including hope.

But Woods had owned a fashion shop and another business before his arrest. Even under the cloud of a potential return to the cell, he opted to stake a better claim to being part of the community by opening Woods Auto Spa.

He also began counseling young people, speaking of his reality, helping when others needed it.

“You have to earn that,” Woods said of respect from a community. “Taking a chance – that was key.”

Both admit they are still learning, about life and business. They opened Essentialz, but have yet to figure out just where to take it.

But there is space – and time – for that.

“These are opportunities,” Woods said of the businesses. “I didn’t know what to expect, but we’ve been warmly received.”