New shop on Coventry features works by local artists
A new store that sells artwork and other items created by local artisans opened on the south end of Coventry Road on Jan. 23. Jenny Goe and her husband, Steve Goe, are the owners of In the 216, located in the space formerly occupied by Phoenix Coffee and, before that, Arabica Coffee.
Jenny, 49, is an artist herself, while her husband works for Progressive Insurance. The couple, who just got married in December, currently live in Highland Heights, but hope to move to the Cleveland Heights area soon. Jenny lived in Shaker Heights, off of Coventry Road, for about 10 years. The couple’s dog—a mixed-breed terrier and retriever named Heaven—can often be found in the shop.
Jenny said that she and her husband had often thought about opening a shop where they could sell items made by local artists. “Because I make and sell jewelry, it was a natural idea to open a store,” she said. “And Coventry was always a cool place to go and hang out. So when I saw this space, I thought it was a really good fit. I think our store really fits Coventry, which features small shops and handmade items.”
The store carries a wide variety of items, ranging from jewelry and handbags to sculptures and clothing, and prices range from $3 to $2,500. In the 216 sells products made by more than 40 artisans. “Most of the artists whose work we sell in the shop are friends of mine and people who I have worked with in the past,” said Jenny.
Among the artists whose work is sold in the store is a husband-and-wife team that goes by the name of Moonlighting. They create three-dimensional soft sculptures that resemble stuffed animals. Another company, Jenbuzza Bags, creates market bags made out of old coffee sacks, and yoga bags that are also sold at In the 216.
Betsy Figgie creates handbags, wallets and clutches made from old books, while Mary Farrell, a Shaker Heights resident, creates blankets, bibs and other baby products that are all made from organic material. Another artist, Vivianna Banana, makes baby booties, bibs and blankets.
Andrea Howell, whose company is called Tidal Cool, creates neckties, bowties and skirts, while Sue Malovic makes scarves using recycled yarn. Among the store’s most popular items are handbags made from old album covers. The company that creates those bags is called Pandora’s Creations.
In the 216 also carries a wide assortment of T-shirts with Cleveland and Ohio themes. One company, So Cle Tees, makes shirts that have slogans like “No Mistake Here,” “Cleveland’s Got Soul” and “A Polka Town” on them, while another company, We Bleed Ohio, also makes Cleveland- and Ohio-themed T-shirts.
Many of the shop’s products are made from recycled materials. For example, Jen Warden takes old bottles and other glass items, melts them down and turns them into jewelry and small, tree-like sculptures. Another artist, who goes by the name of Cynde H. Designs, takes old photo slides, film strips and negatives and turns them into earrings, necklaces and other pieces of jewelry. Jackee Clark, who works at a tile company, takes old, discarded pieces of tile and creates Ohio mosaics and peace signs. Kool Platez makes artistic signs from pieces of old car license plates. The signs carry such slogans as “Peace,” “Hippy Chick,” “Coventry” and “In the 216.”
In addition to artwork, In the 216 also sells organic dog biscuits and dog toys. The biscuits are all in the shape of the letters CLE or the numbers 216. The store also carries all-natural body products, including body wash, soaps and lotions, made by Mayfield Heights-based Urban Botanicals.
Jenny said that she and her husband also plan to start selling preserved-fruit items, such as jams and salsas, from Ohio-grown produce, and are negotiating a deal with Coffee for a Cause to sell bags of coffee.
The Goes hope to turn some of the building’s other vacant spaces—previously occupied by such businesses as the Kiwi Spoon frozen yogurt store—into galleries where they can exhibit artists’ works, and are currently negotiating with the building’s owners to bring about that plan. “Cleveland is really heavy with talented artists who create amazing things,” Jenny said. “My husband and I are both very excited about having this store here.”
In the 216
216-862-4830
1854-A Coventry Road
Monday through Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.
James Henke
James Henke, a Cleveland Heights resident, was a writer and editor at Rolling Stone magazine for 15 years. He is also the author of several books, including biographies of Jim Morrison, John Lennon and Bob Marley.