I was born on the west side, grew up on the east side and ended up in the middle. This is my third time passing through Over-the-Rhine as a resident and my first as a business owner. I lived in my first Over-the-Rhine apartment on Main Street in 1990-91 when I was a senior finishing up my urban planning degree at the University of Cincinnati.

It was one of the best years of my life. There was a nice mix of Appalachian and Black families, artists and college students, but there wasn't much happening (yet) business-wise. It had a wonderful bohemian neighborhood vibe.

After graduation, I moved to San Diego and lived there for one year before heading back to Main Street. I had a fun part-time job at the spunky Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce. Kaldi's had just opened.
Quirky art galleries and stores we're filling up formerly boarded-up storefronts. There were more people on the street. It was a neighborhood undergoing incremental change.

After another four years in Cincinnati, I left for New York City and then Chicago. I returned in February 2007 almost 11 years later to open Park + Vine, our city's first green general store, at 1109 Vine Street. We were the first new store to sign a lease north of Central Parkway and join longtime business institutions such as Suder's Art Store. We shared our June 1-3 grand opening weekend with City Roots, Metronation and Below Zero Lounge.

There was never a doubt in my mind that Cincinnati was ready for a store like Park + Vine. After gaining inspiration for the store from Chicago's Green City Market and locally owned operated businesses around the country, I knew it was time to come home. My friends in Chicago encouraged me to open the store there, but even more people were optimistic about me doing it here in Cincinnati. It didn't take much convincing.

Many people thought I was nuts for deciding on Over-the-Rhine. There may be some truth to this, but most any new business venture is risky.

My top choice was always Over-the-Rhine. I've always admired the neighborhood's fierce independence and its resolve for self-improvement despite the unfair criticism it receives around the region. Plus, my heart is in the city. The suburbs, especially the older ones that ring Cincinnati's boundaries, certainly have their advantages. However, the city itself is what makes this region tick and is our one common denominator.

Living in other cities helped me appreciate Cincinnati. I love this place. I've never bought into Cincinnati's reputation as a conservative city. Maybe it's the circles of people in my life, but my Cincinnati embraces creativity and new ideas. It's the reason our store is thriving. Maybe more of us need to move around a little bit more to see what's happening in other cities while spreading the good word about Cincinnati.