On Tuesday, January 6, Rachel Kingsbury will finally get to open the doors of The Grocery, a project that she’s been working on for the last year.
“It’s sort of surreal right now,” she says during a rare break.
The Grocery (3815 Lorain Ave., 216-543-6388, thegroceryohc.com) fills a long-dormant storefront on a portion of Lorain Avenue that has seen an increasing amount of retail attention lately. Kingsbury’s neighbors include Jack Flaps, Cleveland Brew Shop, Platform Beer Co, and Beer Tech. In the coming months the street will welcome Plum Café and Humble Pie Bakery, among others.
Kingsbury describes the Grocery as “a green grocer” geared to individuals and families living in the immediate area.
“The population in this neighborhood is growing,” she says. “Me and a lot of my friends and neighbors are just bikers and walkers – car-free – so I wanted to make it easier for them to get the products they wanted.”
Shoppers will find fresh vegetables like carrots, potatoes, lettuce and kale, local milk, cheese and dairy, vegan and vegetarian items like tofu, and cold-pressed juices distributed from area providers. In season, Kingsbury will supplement her inventory from produce grown in her two urban gardens.
Shoppers will also be able to purchase from a small selection of prepared salads and sandwiches displayed in the cooler. Necessities like toilet paper will be sold but not displayed. Fresh flowers for sale will fill the front windows.
“Simple things that people need,” she notes.
The old storefront space features original hardwood floors, 12-foot ceilings, and Edison bulbs offering gentle illumination. Murals and chalkboard menus adorn the walls. A half wall separates the retail space from the prep areas.
While Ohio City has been getting loads of attention for its bars, breweries and restaurants, Kingsbury believes the next wave of development will cater to neighbors like her.
“I think we’re going to start seeing a lot more amenity-type places open up,” she says.
