Why she’s interesting … After opening Room Service, an art-centric lifestyle store in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood, in 2007, DeBoe used her love of all things local to create a series of Made in 216 shopping events designed to highlight Northeast Ohio designers.
Campfire chats … “I have to admit, it wasn’t my lifelong dream.” DeBoe was sitting around a campfire with friends in August 2007 when someone suggested she open her own store. “By the end of September, I had quit my job and had the keys to the store.”
Location, location, location … “When I decided to open a store, I never even looked in one other neighborhood, never considered one other neighborhood. I walk to work most days. I actually refer to [the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood] as my little island. I rarely leave my island. I’ve got Luxe, I’ve got Happy Dog, I’ve got a coffee shop, I’ve got entertainment.”
Design on a dime … “I feel it is so easy to find good design at a high price point, but I do know there are products available that are affordable and attainable. There just didn’t seem to be anyone in Cleveland really doing that at the time.”
Hometown advocate … DeBoe held her first Made in 216 event in June 2008 with 12 artists and another in November with 52 artists.
Hot items … Jewelry by local designers Modern Pixie and Océanne. “I can’t keep them in the store. They are such a big hit.”
On her ever-changing inventory … “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. But it’s me. I really can’t look at the same thing every day.”
Beth Stallings
Carly Toyzan
Jim Vickers
Colleen Smitek
Erick Trickey
Kim Schneider
Christina Ipavec
Brittany Moffat
Emily Garvey
Katie Dragga
Lauren Hennen
by Jennifer Bowen
Meet your neighbors and the faces behind some of Cleveland's favorite haunts through the curious camera lens of the Cleveland Public Library's chief of special projects and collections. By John Skrtic
