Jeancola's Market - Revitalization & Re-Opening
Donation protected
I have never done or asked something like this before.
I'd like to purchase my family's old commercial property in Lorain, OH. It has sat vacant for 20+ years and I have an incredible vision for how to restore and reopen it. It was an Italian meat market and grocery store dating back to the 1940s, opened by my great grandparents. There are two apartments upstairs, and a side building that used to be the old Delmonico's barber shop. I would love to open a natural, locally sourced grocery store but I'd need to do more market research to see if that is sustainable. I have several other ideas as well such as a resale shop focusing on vintage items, and also have a space for local businesses that don't have a storefront to showcase and sell their items.
Let's face it...if I don't make this happen, it is highly likely that it will be torn down and a gas station or fast food restaurant or (dare I say it?!) a Dollar General will end up there. That would literally crush me.
Lorain has really impressed me over the last couple of years with how they have revitalized the downtown area all while preserving the historical components that we all know, love and remember growing up.
This property brings me to tears every time I go inside of it. I have spent countless hours over the last several months cleaning it out, designing plans in my head, talking to contractors, investors, the historical society, and so many others. It's not a question of IF I want to take this on...it is HOW can I make it possible?
I would need to purchase the property in cash..and it's not a small amount I just have laying around to invest in this project. On top of that, I am looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars in renovations, repairs, permits, materials, etc..
This has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. That store means everything to me. When I walk into it, it is like a time capsule. It is filled with the shopping carts, shelves, my Granny's stool behind the lottery counter, toys from my childhood, books, signs, and most importantly, memories.
My 14 year old daugher and I started our online business, Jeancola's Market, as a way to start generating the funds to make this happen. It is something I want to do not only for me, but to pass on to my kids.
I want to restore it back to it's original look - complete with the old Jeancola's Market sign that hung so proudly for decades. I have a vision of a mural that would be painted on the west side of the building for everyone to see as they drive down West Erie Ave. It could be a space for local businesses that don't have the luxury of a storefront to sell their items. I'd hold networking events to drum up local business through my popular group, Network Fifty Two that I founded in 2016.
If you really want to hear my dreams...I'd love to get this done and years down the road buy "the castle" restaurant two doors down and turn it into a lakefront wedding venue. Maybe in between the two properties, we could find room for a winery with lakefront seating to house live entertainment!
So my question to you is this...especially those of you born and raised right here in Lorain County...is this a project that you would support? Would you be willing to make a donation to help us raise the funds to make our dream of reopening Jeancola's Market come true?
I'd like to purchase my family's old commercial property in Lorain, OH. It has sat vacant for 20+ years and I have an incredible vision for how to restore and reopen it. It was an Italian meat market and grocery store dating back to the 1940s, opened by my great grandparents. There are two apartments upstairs, and a side building that used to be the old Delmonico's barber shop. I would love to open a natural, locally sourced grocery store but I'd need to do more market research to see if that is sustainable. I have several other ideas as well such as a resale shop focusing on vintage items, and also have a space for local businesses that don't have a storefront to showcase and sell their items.
Let's face it...if I don't make this happen, it is highly likely that it will be torn down and a gas station or fast food restaurant or (dare I say it?!) a Dollar General will end up there. That would literally crush me.
Lorain has really impressed me over the last couple of years with how they have revitalized the downtown area all while preserving the historical components that we all know, love and remember growing up.
This property brings me to tears every time I go inside of it. I have spent countless hours over the last several months cleaning it out, designing plans in my head, talking to contractors, investors, the historical society, and so many others. It's not a question of IF I want to take this on...it is HOW can I make it possible?
I would need to purchase the property in cash..and it's not a small amount I just have laying around to invest in this project. On top of that, I am looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars in renovations, repairs, permits, materials, etc..
This has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. That store means everything to me. When I walk into it, it is like a time capsule. It is filled with the shopping carts, shelves, my Granny's stool behind the lottery counter, toys from my childhood, books, signs, and most importantly, memories.
My 14 year old daugher and I started our online business, Jeancola's Market, as a way to start generating the funds to make this happen. It is something I want to do not only for me, but to pass on to my kids.
I want to restore it back to it's original look - complete with the old Jeancola's Market sign that hung so proudly for decades. I have a vision of a mural that would be painted on the west side of the building for everyone to see as they drive down West Erie Ave. It could be a space for local businesses that don't have the luxury of a storefront to sell their items. I'd hold networking events to drum up local business through my popular group, Network Fifty Two that I founded in 2016.
If you really want to hear my dreams...I'd love to get this done and years down the road buy "the castle" restaurant two doors down and turn it into a lakefront wedding venue. Maybe in between the two properties, we could find room for a winery with lakefront seating to house live entertainment!
So my question to you is this...especially those of you born and raised right here in Lorain County...is this a project that you would support? Would you be willing to make a donation to help us raise the funds to make our dream of reopening Jeancola's Market come true?
Organizer
Maria Mae
Organizer
Lorain, OH