Cornersmiths Anniversary

It’s been a fast-slow nine years... YEAR NINE! This week Corner Smiths is celebrating it’s ninth year in the old Gayman Building at the corner of South High and Waterloo Streets. The day Kendra and I first opened our doors - we housed a collection of items - picked, built or perfected by her. We spent many fun hours trying to transform our space into a reflection of our travels and her thoughts. Her passion for creating was, and still is, an electricity that pulses through her. However, time moves forward... And a couple years into our journey she became a wife and mother; shifting away from hours spent at the shop to manifesting her ideas into her home and surroundings. At the same time, Corner Smiths was joined by a host of other talented and interesting shop owners - each bringing their own flare to the once quiet Canal Winchester storefronts. I wasn’t quite sure what to do when life first showed its hand - as I’m not an artist; had no previous retail experience or really never ran a business. And to top it off - I missed my daily hang-out pal. I swirled around the notion of putting the “closed” sign on the door - but something kept gnawing at me...and that something was, All of You. I couldn’t shake the thought that I wasn’t ready to loose contact with all those I had been blessed to meet through our little shop on the corner. That was my currency; the smiling faces, the stories and the connection to people I may never have had the good fortune to meet. Then, sure enough, the universe gave me a nudge. Family and friends showed-up without request (thank you Kendra, Bruna, Judith, Kaela, Dick, Jill, Jackie, Chelsie and Rae) and together we started to pivot Corner Smiths from an artist’s garret to a curated collection of home goods and gifts. In 2018, we added the Winchester Trade Emporium - a store within a store - to house specialty food items. And here we are, in 2020 - a year where no words suffice - but doing things differently has become part of the norm. As it goes, we will continue to refine our lines of gifts, home goods and specialty Emporium items; pivoting and evolving as we move forward. One thing will remain constant in year nine - we will continue to do what we love most; be at the corner to serve all of you even if we can’t see your smiles.