WARREN, Ohio – The operator of a new multivendor space downtown for women-owned businesses provides an opportunity for each to benefit from the others’ patrons.
The Small District held its grand opening just over a month ago at 523 E. Market St. A total of 11 small shops are operating in the first-floor space, owner Angel Williams said. She operates one of the shops, Stanley Grace Boutique, which also includes Charmed, a charm bar.
The concept for The Small District grew out of Williams’ experiences in Cortland, where her boutique operated previously, and where she would collaborate with other small businesses on events. As her lease there was ending, she thought it would be a great idea to collaborate with other women-owned businesses every day, and she saw the downtown Warren space was available.
“The size of it was what really caught my eye – the multiple rooms that were available in here,” Williams recalled. Also, downtown Warren is “booming,” and the visibility that the highly trafficked East Market Street building offered made the space attractive.
“It was just kind of a no-brainer,” she said.
One of the people she presented the idea to was JoJo Garcia, co-owner of Nook Salon Suite, a hairstyling salon operating in the space. Garcia did Williams’ hair when she worked at another local salon.
“Angel and I have actually been lifelong friends. Our families grew up together,” Garcia said. When Williams shared her concept of bringing women-owned businesses together in one space, she thought the idea was fantastic.
“I couldn’t say no,” she said.
Williams also posted online that she was looking for other women-owned businesses.
Nail technician Ashley Petrucci, who operates The Nail Girl, another Small District tenant, said a friend forwarded Williams’ post. She reached out to Williams and checked out the space.
“I love it. I think it’s great,” Petrucci remarked. “Most of my girls will come in and they’re looking around, they’re wanting to shop. They’ll either shop around before their appointment or after.”
“It’s really cool to watch,” Garcia said. Her clients, their hair processing, will step outside her shop and shop at other tenants.
“I’m huge on supporting other women, regardless of whether they have a small business or not,” Williams said. “When you get women that really want to see each other succeed, it works really well.”
The tenant mix includes boutiques offering women’s apparel, a bakery, jewelry vendors and a beef tallow company.
Petrucci said her clients from her previous location have followed her to Warren, and she is benefiting from traffic from her fellow Small District vendors.
“We’re getting pretty decent traffic,” Williams remarked. Saturdays, overall, are good, and last weekend she hosted the market’s first vendor’s market, a monthly event to provide other small businesses the opportunity to set up for a day to sell their products and services, collaborate and network.
Incoming tenants include a vendor that offers waxing and eyelash services, she said. She acknowledged she would like to expand beyond the current pace someday. “But I would always stay with small business,” she said.
Pictured at top: From left are Paige Fleischer, JoJo Garcia, Angel Williams and Ashley Petrucci.