Park + Vine partners with Building Value in move to new space

Cincinnati's premiere green general store, Park + Vine, is moving from their location at 1109 Vine Street to a new location at 1202 Main Street in the historic Belmain building. The new space will be more than twice the square footage of the previous store, totaling 2,563 square feet.

The new location will include a concrete bar serving La Terza coffee, fresh squeezed juices and grab-and-go food items with products from local healthy food producers including Fabulous Ferments, Picnic & Pantry, Lucky John Market and Five Star Foodies. Seating will be available for customers to gather with views of Main Street to enjoy refreshments and create community conversation.

"People want to hang out with us and the previous space wasn't designed that way," says owner Dan Korman. "We survey our customers every January and the majority said they would like a drink bar."

To stay true to their green roots, Park + Vine has organized two people-powered brigades with dollies and bicycles to transport the merchandise and goods from the old store to the new one without using gas-powered vehicles.

Korman is also lobbying to have standard bike racks installed on the sidewalk in front of the store and for a bicycle corral to be placed in a metered car parking spot to accommodate cyclists and scooters. There are currently hoops for locking up bikes on the parking meters.

Park + Vine hired Building Value and it's subsidiary Building Ability, which empowers people with disabilities by providing the opportunity to work and have greater independence, to create three shelving units for the new store out of repurposed materials. One wall will feature a display made of reclaimed furniture, virtually cut and repurposed as a piece of functional art and shelving. Korman was interested with working with the non-profit because of the green products they were creating and repurposing.

Half of the new one-stop green spot will offer food-related items; the previous store's footprint only offered ten percent of space for food and pantry items. There will be a bulk food station and cleaning supplies, as well as a private room for community lectures and a small deck in the back for customers to enjoy.

"We felt so confined in our old location. This gives us an opportunity to play with the space a lot more. I've felt settled so well be here a long time. Everyone seems excited about it, although some are sentimental about the old space. Other stores, as well as restaurants and bars, can more easily open around us now." says Korman. "Main Street is just as much of a community as Vine Street, which was just getting started a few years ago," says Korman.

The store hours will increase after the move. With the new space holding their soft opening on Friday, October 1, the store will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Want to join the dolly brigade and help Park + Vine's eco-friendly move this week?  Those interested should email [email protected] before Tuesday Sept 28. Only patrons 18 and older can help out; free food and beverages will be provided.

Writer: Rene Brunelle
Photography by Scott Beseler.