Columbus, Ohio USA
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Dis 'n' Data
By Margaret Marten, Editor
email margaret@shortnorth.com
May 2007
Take 2 Apparel, an upscale second-hand clothing store that opened here in the Short North in October 2004 has moved most of its inventory from 30 Warren St. to the recently vacated Cowtown Art space at 668 N. High St. Their goal, according to co-owner Charlie Gray, has always been to be more of a boutique, and the smaller quaint space on High Street seems compatible with that vision. The new shop will be more selective in its choice of used clothing, offering a more refined atmosphere for customers along the vibrant main thoroughfare of High Street. They are still phasing out the other store space with a clearance sale of 60 percent off, and both shops will be open during Gallery Hop. Call 614-299-9820 for more information.
Two additional clothing stores have emerged recently in the Short North, which is okay since people seem to have an insatiable appetite for dressing themselves up and down and every which way. Tigertree at 17 E. Brickel St. opened for Gallery Hop on April 7. The new boutique is owned by Josh Quinn, 24, and his fiancée Niki Cagle, 23, offering fun casual clothing and accessories including their own special line, Maxine Dear, of handcrafted totes, wallets, and belt buckles. The couple developed an interest in crafting items during a long-distance relationship they maintained while Cagle was attending OSU and Quinn lived in Los Angeles. They sent each other gifts crafted from images found in old books. “We always really loved the old book print,” said Quinn, “and we felt like it was this art that was kind of lost. There are beautiful images, and if you go back far enough, they’re printed on quality material. When you extract it from the book you have this amazing canvas print. The books became a kind of semantic gift. We’d make each other stuff out of the same thing over and over again.” And the hobby eventually developed into something marketable. Later, they traveled the country and were able to place their accessory line in shops as well as gather information on what other lines were selling in places like New York, Chicago, San Antonio and Los Angeles to consider merchandising in their future store. The Tigertree is now open seven day a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. They are located near the Pistachio bakery and a stone’s throw away from Betty’s. Call 614-223-2136 or visit www.etsy.com where some of their innovative craftsmanship can be viewed.
Maren Roth’s smart-looking boutique, Rowe, also opened last month, at 718 N. High St., in the space where Bonadies Glasstudios was doing business for a while before they headed back to Yellow Springs. While searching for a storefront last December, Roth rented the back of Rebecca Ibel Gallery and presented fashionable offerings from a “moveable boutique.” The following month, she found a home above Rojo Tequileria and remained there through March before settling into the current space. A Columbus native, Roth lived in New York City for a few years after graduating from college, working as a fashion publicist for a number of high profile fashion accounts. She has maintained relationships with her New York connections, including good friend Lauren Moffatt, and brings some of the NYC style into her upscale shop. To learn more about Maren Roth, her ambitions and philosophy, visit www.shoprowe.com. The number for Rowe is 614-299-7693.
The Muse Off High, a hidden treasure trove of colorful clothing, was too far off the beaten path in that cul-de-sac corner on E. Poplar to attract the clientele they needed to flourish, so they’ve decided to call it quits.
The Goodale Park Art Festival scheduled for September 22 - 23 seems a long way off, but the deadline for applications may be too close for comfort for those challenged by the process of filling out forms or submitting the required five slides in “good condition.” We were notified that the deadline may be extended a few days, but according to the official registration information, applications are due by Tuesday, May 15. Potential exhibitors will then be juried and notified of results by June 22. The festival is a production of By Hand, a fine art and craft organization founded by Jay Snyder, former Fair Director for Ohio Designer Craftsmen’s Winterfair. He is looking to gather 150 top quality artists and craftsmen for the festival. You can download an application at www.byhandevents.com Call 614-444-5767 or email info@byhandevents.com for more information.©2007 Short North Gazette, Columbus, Ohio. All rights reserved.