To get the Red Bull energy drink that powers him through the day, Christopher Hardesty stops each morning at a gas station on his way to work in downtown Akron. He’d rather buy the beverage locally.
Soon, he’ll be able to.
The Mercantile Akron, a market with food and sundries, hopes to open in 1 Cascade Plaza in July. It’s the same building Hardesty, the executive director of the Downtown Akron Development Corp., works in. And he’ll definitely be a customer.
“If they have Red Bull, I’m buying it,” Hardesty said. “I’ll single-handedly support their Red Bull contract.”
The Mercantile is one of two markets due to open downtown this summer. The other is Crafty Steere, an artisanal food market that is opening its third location in the O’Neil’s Building.
With about 3,000 residents downtown, Akron is still shy of the estimated 5,000 people needed to support a grocery store. But Hardesty said he thinks residents, workers and guests will keep both The Mercantile and Crafty Steere operating.
Vaska Ilić, the owner of Ilić Cafe downtown, said she’s excited for the stores to open.
“If anything can bring people downtown, I will be so happy,” she said.
When planned residential conversions across a number of downtown buildings become reality, Hardesty said, maybe the two stores will be able to expand their offerings and fill the needs of a full grocery store.
“It’s something the community’s been asking for for quite some time,” Hardesty said. “We’re not getting a freaking Trader Joe’s in the middle of downtown. That’s not really something that’s feasible. But The Mercantile is.”
The Mercantile Akron wants to fill a gap downtown
Shane Wynn and Becca Gippin, former sisters-in-law, are behind The Mercantile. Gippin has a background in the service industry, including as a bartender at the BLU-Tique hotel downtown, and said she knew there was a gap in the area when she saw hotel guests Door Dashing tubes of toothpaste or contact solution.
“There’s nowhere that just has everything,” she said.
She and Wynn have been polling people about what they want to see at the store — from Hardesty’s Red Bull to a chicken Caesar wrap for Mayor Shammas Malik, who, Wynn said, told her he’d get one every day.
Swedish Fish, ramen, fresh produce — the pair figure if they give people what they ask for, they’re more likely to show up and spend money.
The Mercantile will also sell goods from artists and creators; Gippin hopes to sell pottery, knitting and other crafts that originate in Akron. Beverages, grab-and-go sandwiches and items like aspirin, sunscreen, toilet paper and fresh flowers will be among their offerings.
“We’re going to see what the people want,” Gippin said.
The vision is a general store, or an upscale bodega, with a micro-grocery that includes samples, conversation and a sense of community.
“We want to be a community hub, know everyone’s name, have a treat for your dog,” Wynn said.
The pair intend to keep the store open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. So far, they said, the response to their plan has been positive.
They hope it will help add critical mass to downtown, making the city center more appealing to potential residents.
“The city’s been waiting a long time to open a grocery store,” Wynn said of downtown. “No one wants urban residential living if you can’t walk to the grocery store.”
The partners signed a seven year, 2,000-square-feet lease, with the option to expand into the 4,000 square feet behind them on the first floor of the Cascade Plaza building. They intend to remove the shutters that block the view from the street, opening it up to entice people in.
“The best part is the response we’ve gotten,” Gippin said of the plan. “It’s ‘Thank goodness! We need you.’”
Crafty Steere hopes restaurant makes it a destination
At Crafty Steere, founder and owner Brian Steere said he expects to put about $400,000 into renovating space in the O’Neil’s building, including a $50,000 grant. In addition to a market, he plans to open a restaurant that will keep later hours than the store, and a kitchen that will provide food for Crafty Steere’s locations in Tallmadge and Fairlawn.
The company has West Point Market’s old recipes — Steere said the triple-layer “Killer” brownies, thumbprint cookies and chicken and egg salads are among the most popular offerings at Crafty Steere’s other locations. The market also has charcuterie and cheese spreads, as well as gourmet pantry goods.
The West Point Market recipes mean Crafty Steere patrons often come with a healthy dose of nostalgia, Steere said. He thought opening in the O’Neil’s Building, a former department store with beloved holiday window displays, would lean into those memories as well as improve the area.
“Downtown has had its ups and downs,” Steere said. “Hopefully, it’ll really help reignite some momentum coming out of COVID.”
Steere said he thinks there’s room for both businesses to thrive. The number of residents is growing, and he hopes the restaurant will help make the store a draw. The business will be open seven days a week.
“I think it has the potential to be a destination,” he said. “There are certain things that attract people. This is hopefully one of those.”
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Bringing more business downtown
All three business owners said their connections to Akron made them want to improve downtown — Steere said it was participating in Leadership Akron that made him consider the downtown space. Gippin said that, after moving back to the area from New York, she wanted to own a piece of Akron.
There will be some overlap between the businesses, like the fact that both expect catering to help sustain the stores when business might be slower. But Hardesty said he thinks ultimately both will thrive.
Olivia Mitchell, a team member at Ilić Cafe downtown, said the grocery stores will likely bring more life to the city.
Ilić, the cafe’s owner, said parking can be a challenge for downtown shoppers, but both stores are attached to parking decks. More variety, she said, can only be good for the city.
“I’m definitely excited for it,” Mitchell said. “It’ll drive more people in.”
