Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer
Seven small businesses will gain a foothold in Ohio City this year, with help from a first-of-its-kind partnership between Charter One bank and a neighborhood development group.
A pair of twenty-something entrepreneurs with a zeal for commuting by bike; a popcorn and candy company that is rapidly expanding beyond its West Side Market stands; a personal-training guru; a chef; a florist; a boutique and letterpress studio; and a real estate agent with a side-gig making lamps and knick-knacks from reclaimed bits of demolished homes.
Each of those businesses will receive between $3,000 and $15,000 from a Charter One grant program aimed at supporting new and growing businesses in one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. The money, awarded through a competitive process, will pay for equipment, spruce up empty stores and offset monthly rent.
"We went to the banks to borrow money and we were just about $15,000 short," Jeff Campbell, owner of Campbell's Popcorn Shop, said of his expansion. "If it was not for Ohio City Near West (Development Corp.) and Charter One and this grant, this just would not happen. Or if it did, it would be some much lesser version."
Charter One Foundation and the Ohio City Near West neighborhood group set aside roughly $40,000 for a small-business grant contest in January. The three-week contest attracted more than 50 inquiries and 29 applications.
The number and range of requests was so surprising that Dr. David Perse, a member of the grant-selection committee and president of Lutheran Hospital, threw in $10,000 more through a hospital fund.
Collectively, the seven businesses expect to create 40 jobs within their first year. All of them must open by Aug. 1.
For Campbell, a $15,000 grant will help pay for equipment and expansion for a business born and nurtured in the West Side Market.
On June 1, Campbell plans to open a production facility and store on West 25th Street, in a retail strip south of Lorain Avenue. With more production space, Campbell aims to introduce new items such as peanut brittle and homemade marshmallow taffy at his family's West Side Market stands, while building a freestanding retail business with longer hours.
Bed, Bath & Beyond has contacted Campbell about selling his popcorn in the national chain's Northeast Ohio stores. By expanding, he hopes to more than double his monthly retail, wholesale and Internet sales - now about $34,000 - within a year.
"We've kind of stumbled on a best practice, which is a little bit of seed money can go a long way," said Eric Wobser, executive director of Ohio City Near West.
PD FileJeff and Lynn Campbell work their popcorn stand at the West Side Market in September. Their business is expanding with help from a $15,000 grant through the Charter One program.
As the businesses open or expand, they'll cut retail vacancies by more than 50 percent in the Market District neighborhood.
Fit Personal Training Studio, a tiny yoga and personal-training business on Bridge Avenue, is working on a deal to fill a long-empty 3,000-square-foot storefront on West 25th Street. Owner Kevin Smyth plans to open a coaching-centric fitness center in the larger space, while keeping his smaller studio for yoga and pilates.
"It's gratifying to see our investment in Ohio City pay such quick and positive dividends for the community," said Ken Marblestone, president of Charter One Ohio. "These new jobs and new businesses will help feed the continuing renaissance of this iconic Cleveland neighborhood."
Alex Nosse and Renato Pereira-Castillo secured a $9,000 grant to cut rent costs for Joy Machines Bike Shop, which will sell new and refurbished bicycles, parts, gear and clothing on West 25th Street. The first-time business owners are targeting bike messengers and people who commute by bike.
Florist Brandon Sitler will use his $3,000 grant to pay for a cooler to stock The Urban Orchid on Bridge Avenue. At the Salty Not Sweet boutique on West 25th, Candra Squire will be able to pay for fixtures and supplies for classes on handmade goods. Keith Goad and Paul Grunwald will get a break on rent for R3 Domain, a store that will sell furniture and accessories made from reclaimed materials found across Northeast Ohio.
And a $7,000 grant will help Nolan Konkoski and Molly Smith outfit a patio along Gould Court, a small street next to their future restaurant. The business partners plan to open a southern-inspired restaurant, Soho Kitchen and Bar, on West 25th in the summer.
