As my parents were hinting from the gift of "Oh the Places You'll Go,"  I knew they expected me to move to another city or maybe even another country.  Actually, I was ready to leave Cincinnati as soon as I graduated high school, and although I stayed in Cincinnati to attend college, I never even considered staying in Cincinnati after graduating.  I was ready to create my own path in a bigger city that supposedly would have much more to offer a young designer.  It wasn't until traveling to and living in plenty of other cities that I started to consider what Cincinnati had to offer.  Don't get me wrong, I've fallen in love with many other cities, but I'm happy to be able to call Cincinnati home.

The opportunities I've discovered here are so immense.  Whether it's getting a grant to start your own business or finding an affordable place to live in the most diverse neighborhood in town, Cincinnati has so much to offer.  Over-the-Rhine has become my home and the support I've received from the neighborhood is so encouraging.  The area has tons of potential; it seems like the buildings sit here quietly, waiting for people to fill them and create a vibrant, hip neighborhood.  The more I ride my bike around, exploring OTR, the more this seems possible.  I feel so proud to have this opportunity to be a part of the Over-the-Rhine's growth into lively place to live, work and play.  

I didn't really think about it until now, but there were plenty of people that seemed to think the odds were stacked against me.  When I would tell people of my plan, these were the obstacles they saw:

1- You're opening a store in Over-the-Rhine
2- You're choosing to locate on Main St. and not joining the critical mass of stores on Vine St.
3- You're opening a retail store during a recession
4- You have no personal experience working retail
5- You're 23 years old and just graduating from college
6- You majored in product design, not business
7- You're going to sell second items that have no definitive value

I guess they thought I was supposed to graduate from college, get a job as an Industrial Designer, and not take a risk.  But I knew what I wanted to do and tried to surround myself with people that thought I was capable of achieving my dreams. Like Dr. Seuss wrote "And will you succeed? / Yes! You will, indeed! / (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.) / Kid, you'll move mountains!" 

I knew without trying I would never give myself a chance to succeed. So after lots of hard work, Atomic Number Ten opened its doors September of 2009.  We've been in business almost 6 months, and when someone asks me what I do, still to my surprise, I can say, "I own my own business."  I'm doing things my own way, and that's something I'll always be proud of.  With that said, the interior of my store became an outlet for self expression.  My design education helped me to create a unique, fun retail atmosphere, full of neon colors, eccentric skeletons, and chalkboard walls. This became my way of wearing my heart on my sleeve.

I received "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss, as a high school graduation present from my parents.  I didn't really have a plan then; I knew I was going to the University of Cincinnati, majoring in Fashion Design and that I'd eventually find my way.  Two quarters into college I decided to change majors to Industrial Design, and although I still didn't know what was in store for me it felt like the right move.  After co-opting in Cleveland, OH, Benton Harbor, MI,  Palo Alto, CA and backpacking through Europe for 3 months, I knew I hadn't found the right path.  Looking for inspiration I thought of Dr. Seuss's advice, "You can steer yourself any direction you choose. / You're on your own. And you know what you know. / And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go."

I did find one constant during my travels. My first objective in each city was always to find the least trodden thrift store or the most absurd flea market.  I've always been a little shy and I discovered the best way for me to express myself was through fashion.  The search for one-of-a-kind items, led me to developing a fondness for vintage clothing.  I began to wonder about the items I was buying.  Who owned that gold foil jacket before me?  Did they wear it to an extravagant gala or just to take their dog for a walk?   As this appeal of second hand objects grew, I decided I'd like to open my own vintage store... "down the road."  I told my dad my dream and he said "Why not do it now?"  I replied, "Are you for real?!"  It seemed so far out of my reach that I didn't know what to think, but he reassured me I could make it happen.

So that was it, I resolved to start my own business in Cincinnati after I graduated college.