Faces of Lakewood: Three Community Leaders Making a Difference

Alison Griffiths

Step inside the newly opened Thrive & Shine Candles and you’ll find more than handcrafted candles and home fragrances. You’ll also be greeted by the welcoming face of Owner Alison Griffiths.

Part retail shop and part creative studio, the brick-and-mortar came to be because Griffiths wanted to create an accessible space for people who, like her, struggled with fragrance sensitivity and migraines. 

“I’ve always loved candles and home fragrances, but I often couldn’t enjoy standard retail products without them triggering symptoms,” Griffiths says. “I also wanted to craft a welcoming and relaxing space where people can connect with scent, creativity and each other.”

To that end, in the coming months, Griffiths also hopes to kick off a candle-making class in the studio.

“The goal is to turn the shop into a place where people don’t just buy candles; they create memories and learn the process behind them,” Griffiths says. “My hope is that it becomes a small but meaningful gathering place where people come for an experience and leave with a stronger sense of community and maybe a new friendship or two.”

Griffiths notes that having the shop’s physical footprint in Lakewood and also calling the city home means a great deal to her.

“I can’t express how grateful I am to be able to grow my business here in Lakewood and be supported by a community that values small business so much,” Griffiths says. “My wife and I also feel very safe and supported here as a queer couple, which has made Lakewood feel like a place where we can truly build our life. This is where we plan to put down our roots, and opening a business here feels like a way to invest back into the community that has given us so much.” 

Matt Bixenstine

A new face on Lakewood’s City Council, representing Ward 4, Matt Bixenstine has a clear agenda: expand block club participation, champion active transportation and ensure the city’s park system flourishes. 

“Ward 4 is a unique and special place. It’s the most socioeconomically diverse part of Lakewood with the proud working-class neighborhood of Birdtown; the Gold Coast, which is the most densely populated neighborhood with apartment high rises on Lake Erie; and a bunch of neighborhoods in between,” Bixenstine says. “I want to get to know these residents and learn how I can support them.” 

Bixenstine was a champion of Lakewood long before running for City Council.

During the COVID pandemic in 2020, he and his neighbors formed Friends of Madison Park, a collaborative effort to build more community within the park. 

“Our original focus was on hosting events because a lot of regular events weren’t happening, but we’ve evolved in other ways to assist the park and ensure it’s a vibrant place,” Bixenstine says.

This includes initiatives such as the little free locker room, a sporting goods library that ensures all park visitors have access to equipment; a 25-plot community garden that residents can use free of charge; and other beautification initiatives.

The Madison Park Master Plan also includes a Birdtown connector entrance and renovations to the futsal court. 

Bixenstine says he’s proud to live and work in Lakewood. 

“Lakewood is such a wonderful place to raise a family,” he says. “We value the diversity, the local businesses, the access to Lake Erie, Rocky River Metropark and Madison Park in our backyard. We consider ourselves lucky to reside in Lakewood.” 

Megan Gillum

As Malley’s Chocolates marks more than 90 years in Cleveland, it turns to a fresh face for its next chapter: Megan Gillum, the first non-family president in the company’s rich history. 

Gillum took over as president in February 2025 after joining the company in 2024 as vice president of retail strategy and operations.

“I’ve spent my career helping people celebrate their most meaningful occasions, but this role is different,” Gillum says. “Malley’s has so much heart. People don’t just buy chocolate here. They are creating memories, traditions and special moments with the people they love.”

Gillum’s outlook for the company is simple: protect what people love most about Malley’s while finding thoughtful ways to grow. 

“That means investing in our stores, creating new fun and trendy products and partnerships, strengthening our connection to the community and making sure every customer still feels that same joy when they walk through our doors,” Gillum says. 

As part of this reinvestment in its stores, the company is putting resources toward its flagship store in Lakewood. 

“Lakewood has always been one of our most vibrant communities — it’s energetic, loyal, creative and deeply supportive of local businesses,” Gillum says. “Our Lakewood store has long been a special place for customers, so it felt right to invest there first.”

While the heart of the store remains the same, the most exciting addition, Gillum says, is a custom mural by local artist Lisa Quine, whose work is featured in Rocket Arena, Progressive Field and throughout Cleveland neighborhoods.

“Lisa’s work is well known across Cleveland, and we’ve admired how she brings personality to spaces around the city,” Gillum says. “Bringing her into our Lakewood store was a way to celebrate local talent and make the space feel truly connected to the community.”

The mural includes Malley’s favorites like Rainbow Wafers, ice cream sundaes and even a Buckeye, as well as a pretzel crunch pathway, carousel and more. 

“Our hope is that whether someone loves the new mural, remembers the original elements of the store or both, they still feel what has always made Malley’s special the moment they come in,” Gillum says.