OneLove Culture Shop opening in Ypsilanti's Depot Town
OneLove Culture Shop partners Brooke Wilbanks, left, and Jonathan Doyle, stand with their son Harper, age 3, inside of their new store in Depot Town, Ypsilanti on Wednesday afternoon.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
The OneLove Culture Shop will feature fair trade and locally made items such as clothing, hats, jewelry, tapestries and hand-blown glass. The opening day is Friday.
“We’re featuring some fair trade items,” said owner Brooke Wilbanks. “It opens up a market for underdeveloped markets to sell products at a fair price and ensure that people aren’t underpaid.”
Wilbanks and her fiance Jonathan Doyle decided to open a business because they believe it’s relatively hard to come by the products the store plans to sell. Wilbanks said some items that are largely only available online will be sold at the store.
Wilbanks, a nursing student at Washtenaw Community College, said her family decided Ypsilanti would be an appropriate location because of its diversity. After driving through Depot Town in June, she noticed the building, which previously housed Dennis's Music, at 27 E. Cross Street was available.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
“We’ve talked about this for a long time and we made the investment,” Wilbanks said. “We love Depot Town and it’s a really neat place.”
Wilbanks said the couple is nearly done renovating the 924-square-foot store.
“We just modernized it a little bit and did a lot of painting,” she said. “We put bamboo on the walls and put in new displays. We want it to be a welcoming environment and more open.”
The store has a small couch and coffee area for customers, and Wilbanks said she eventually might open a small stage in the front area of the store.
“It would be for musicians and poets to use,” she said. “We want it to have a homey feel.”
Right now, only Wilbanks and Doyle run the store but additional employees may be hired if the store sees a large amount of interest.
Wilbanks said with the addition of her store and many other newly opened businesses, Ypsilanti might be poised for a retail comeback.
“I would definitely say that Ypsilanti is on its way to becoming something more than what it has been,” she said. “Depot Town Merchants are really supportive and everyone works together. Everyone wants to support each other’s business.”
Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2548 or KatreaseStafford@annarbor.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @KatreaseS.
Comments
Ashley
Wed, Aug 8, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
Great Job brooke and johnathon!! its awsome that you are promoting michigan made products, and also bringing in your own sense of style :) hippie or hipster store i dont think it makes a difference as long as your not selling stuff from china then this consumer is happy!! good luck :)
Kimberly Slates
Wed, Aug 8, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
Hand blown glass does NOT always mean pipes and bongs . It can also pertain to rings pendants jewelry and other sorts of things. If by chance pipes are sold this does not diminish the value of a personal small business or the impact it can have on a historical area. I know the owners personally, they are wonderful loving people and if given the chance can add a valuable touch to the historic district of Depot town, and encourage others to open a small business also. Is that not what commerce is all about bringing unique business to a diverse community (on a smaller scale)? I wish them the very best and am very proud of Both Brooke and Doyle
rsa221
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 9:58 p.m.
Best of luck to the owners! The store and small coffee area sound really neat. :)
Ben Petiprin
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 9:19 p.m.
If there are city ordinances about how rusty my house can be and how long my grass can be, there should be regulations on general artsy-ness. How about jean tightness limitations and ironic glasses restriction. At least outlaw wool knit caps in the summertime.
Ashley
Wed, Aug 8, 2012 : 2:51 p.m.
why so negative?
Ben Petiprin
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 10:40 p.m.
Down with the Bohemian elite. SAVE YPSILANTI!
thudski
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 8:55 p.m.
I'm curious - was the photo was taken in summer or winter? I still have my tuque in storage eh?
Unusual Suspect
Wed, Aug 8, 2012 : 12:58 a.m.
Win
Alan Black
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 8:20 p.m.
"The OneLove Culture Shop will feature fair trade and locally made items such as clothing, hats, jewelry, tapestries and hand-blown glass." Sounds more Hippie than Hipster. I hope "hand-blown glass" doesn't mean pot pipes. Not because I'm against pot, or pipes used to smoke it, but just having that kind of item in your shop will stigmatize you. That, and there's already more than enough places in the area to buy glass pipes. Good luck to them though. I can't wait to check it out.
Ashley
Wed, Aug 8, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.
I personally dont agree with the fact that if they sell one particular item in a store will mean there will be a stigma about the store itself.... If the "hand blown glass" does imply that there will be artistic glass pipes amoung other glass items it just goes to show the variety of items that can be created with glass.... along with beads, wall hangings, jewlery, dishes etc!!
mixmaster
Wed, Aug 8, 2012 : 12:33 a.m.
I hope they're stigmatized by a healthy profit each and every month.
garrisondyer
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 6:07 p.m.
Cool! I wonder who their son is named after? :)
harry
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 4:45 p.m.
Depot town is a great area. So much history. I am really glad to see it building up. And if you have never had a sidetrack burger you dont know what you are missing.
Lovaduck
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 4:50 p.m.
Amen to that! I'm just scared that when people realize how many GOOD places there are in Ypsi, they'll all move there and "there go the property values"-----UP, SO NO ONE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE THERE!
Joe
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.
Sounds like a one stop shop for all of your hipster needs.
Dutchy734
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 5:10 p.m.
? I didn't see anything about PBR, tight jeans, tank tops, espresso, mopeds and mustaches..
AdmiralMoose
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 5:09 p.m.
Hipsters spend money, too. Let them do it in Depot Town.
RunrDad
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.
What does "hand blown glass" mean? I wonder if they will be selling bongs. I wonder how this will affect the dynamic of the Historic Depot Town experience.
Unusual Suspect
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 3:11 p.m.
A most superbly re-worded treatise, my good Mr. RunrDad, and I feel I must also append a responding and energetic, "Huzzah!" I shall heretofore attempt to match your literal accomplishment with a paragraph or two of my own making, with optimism that it will be met with resounding approval by the powers that oversee this fine electronic domain. I understand and share your concerns. In other settings, I have seen the phrase "hand-blown glass" employed as a euphemism for such items referred to by certain wayward youth as, "bongs." I have personal experience with a highly skilled craftsman, being a relation of mine, who manufacturers and peddles hand-blown glass objects. Hs often approached by people looking for these hand-blown glass "bongs," as though they had confused him with a person holding a most decreased level of intelligence and moral credo, at which point he requests that they promptly exit his place of business, while adding the comment, "I must regretfully inform you that I am not a builder of the particular item you seek." Furthermore, I would like to take this opportunity to impart to you such information as to indicate that you are indeed not alone in your disdain for the abuse through combustion and inhalation of certain plant species, including Cannabis sativa.
Unusual Suspect
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 1:25 p.m.
Is there going to be a Grateful Dead stuff for sale? What about hemp clothing?
AdmiralMoose
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 1:04 p.m.
Dennis's Music relocated to Hewitt Rd.
Ivy
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 1 p.m.
Glad to hear about a new business in Depot Town. I'm looking forward to stopping in soon.
glimmertwin
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 12:05 p.m.
Sorry to hear that Dennis' closed, but good luck to the new tenant.
Brooke Wilbanks
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 6:38 p.m.
I agree the exact address is 423 n. Hewitt and we still have his sign up that says where he moved too :)
glimmertwin
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
Thanks for that info... there should be a story published about that. Dennis is a great guy.
Brooke Wilbanks
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 1:45 p.m.
Dennis's didn't close they moved to Hewitt rd.
Linda French
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 10:31 a.m.
Welcome to Depot Town. The article left out the part how Brooke is an expert Hula Hooper and is giving lessons during the Thursday night Cruise Night to kids and adults. Thanks for becoming part of the Depot Town Community so quickly.
Brooke Wilbanks
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 1:45 p.m.
I noticed that too Linda! I made sure to mention it to her too, oh well hopefully people just read your comment :)