(bright upbeat music) - Hey out there, Akronites!

Welcome once again, to "Around Akron" with Blue Green.

And wow, this is gonna be a fun episode you're gonna wanna stick around for.

I'm up here in North Hill today, and I'm visiting the NoHi Cafe, 'cause I'm gonna be visiting a few places right around the corner in this area.

I'm gonna visit an apothecary and learn all about those amazing herbs and what they can do for you.

I'm gonna catch up with Not Yo' Daddy's hot sauce and learn all about their amazing hot sauce.

I'm gonna head over to the west side of Akron and visit The 1474 Art Gallery.

And I'm gonna visit a boutique up here in North Hill that has all kinds of amazing local goods.

Now to kick this show off today, I'm gonna head right next door to the Hideaway Studio and Herbal Gift Shop.

Let's go see what they're all about.

(enchanting music) - [Jasmin] My herbal experience started with cooking.

I didn't know I was using herbs, I just thought they were seasonings until I got more acquainted with the definition of herbs and learned that pretty much everything, your seasonings, your spices, are all under the herbal category.

I've been into herbs since my late teens, early 20s.

There were times where I did not have insurance so I had to try to kind of figure out on my own ways to keep myself well, ways to address different things that might pop up, respiratory things.

So I got into herbs as a way of providing myself with a way of healing myself.

(enchanting music) - An apothecary, way back when, was where you would get your herbal tonics for healing, which is now our modern day pharmacy.

There are now places you can go that continue the herbal side of the apothecary.

You get tonics, tinctures, herbal extractions, and education on herbs at an apothecary.

So that's where it all started before we had pharmacies.

(enchanting music) - I think what a lot of people will find if they kind of dig into research is that a lot of medicines they come from herb derivatives.

Things that are already in nature doing what they want medicine to do, but they kind of tweak it.

And so I am not a medical professional or that type of medical professional, but throughout history people have been finding ways of healing themselves within nature.

So this is older than Western medicine.

(enchanting music) So people take them as teas, people can take them and use them as a tea bath, for like relaxation.

You can ingest mullein to deal with respiratory issues, you can inhale herbs by steaming, in that way.

You can infuse herbs in oils and use them topically.

But you need to do your research on what it is you're actually putting on your body or in your body.

So I'm an advocate of everyone doing their own research and then coming into the shop and knowing kind of what they want, but we also have someone here who's, you know, learning herbs and how to support people as they are venturing on their adventure with learning.

(ethereal music) The herb shop kind of was an afterthought to me trying to create a creative space.

I have a very strong creative streak and I needed an outlet for that.

And I wanted to create a space where other people can also come and be creative.

And so we have different fabrics and we have different things, and we have workshops, we hosted some quilt making workshops.

So the creative space came first, and then I was like, well, how are we gonna keep the space open?

And so that's when I wanted to bring in herbs because to me it's all holistic.

It's all a part of developing well-being, creativity is a big part of that.

Being able to help and heal yourself is a big part of that.

And so that's why this space has come into being.

(ethereal music) - Having a space where you can feel safe first and foremost, no judgment zone, a open, welcoming environment to put your guard down and just be yourself.

This is definitely the type of place that provides that for any and everyone.

Even if you're not into or don't understand herbs, candles, crystals, this is still a place that you can come in to learn, ask questions without feeling any apprehension.

Just come in, talk about whatever's on your mind.

Be you in this creative space, share your stories, your experiences, or sit and be quiet.

With us here, it's all here.

You have access to three businesses that are all connected to provide a communal hub in Temple Square, this is what this location is called.

This little strip here is Temple Square.

And to build community and commerce in this area.

So it's good that we are a collective in this neighborhood to provide a space for others to be themselves in any dynamic as far as coffee drinkers, crafters, artists, musicians, you name it.

This pretty much covers it everyone, everyone pretty much.

I'm here all the time and I'm glad it's created.

(ethereal music) - Next up, I'm gonna head over to the west side of Akron to visit the 1474 Art gallery.

Now, this is a new place and they're doing things way different than I've ever seen.

Let's go see what the 1474 Art Gallery is all about.

(bright upbeat music) - I had a friend, he was an artist in high school.

He was just very creative, he drew me something really quick in high school, and then I had it at lunch and somebody was like, "What is that?

Oh my God."

And I'm like, "Oh yeah, so-and-so drew it for me."

And then he was like, "Let me have it."

And I wanted to buy pizza that day or something, and I was like, "$20,".

And I got $20 from the painting I had.

And I was like, hmm, I might be on to something.

So life went on and it kinda like happened, and I was like, well, my... And by the way, my background is in marketing.

So I was like, I don't think I know how to paint 'cause I never got into it, I didn't take art class or anything.

And I was like, well, I just love the art world.

So what can I do to be a part of it?

And my friend was like, "Yo, help me sell these paintings.

Hello?

Like, this is what you do."

And so we made it a thing, and he was just my friend and we just kind of always did it.

And then he would say, "I have another artist who needs your help with some, this, this, that, and third."

And I picked up on that and I realized that what I was doing was a need.

And I started realizing that people need me, so I should speak up about what I do.

(bright upbeat music) I was at the bar next door, South Point Tavern, shout out to you guys.

And I saw that this space was vacant, and I never wanted a gallery, I travel a lot.

A lot of the artists that I meet were actually from different states and like love Akron, Ohio, or grew up in Akron, Ohio, and now live in Atlanta.

And it's just funky, they're all over the place.

So I was like, well, why get a gallery?

I have an online art gallery as well, since 2018.

So I was like, there's no point in just having a gallery, people don't go to galleries anymore, they can just go to social media.

Something just told me, I had a gut feeling that I should try it, look out the place, and I literally did it for fun.

Like, let's see what this place looks like.

It was a pet shop or a place where they like washed animals and stuff.

And I came in and I was like, well, this is too big, I don't need it.

Like 1200 square feet, no, thank you.

And then I couldn't get the venue out my head.

I was like, "Well, maybe if we knock this down and do that, and I love the storefront, I love this area."

And they called me back and they go, "Well, hey, we love your idea, your proposal.

Like, we wanna give it to you.

How about we work something out?"

And at that point I knew I had it, I had to do it.

And it wouldn't get off of me, so I ran with it, and here we are.

So my grand opening was September 5th, it was the Labor Day weekend.

So I've only been here for a couple months.

(calm music) So 1474, 2014 was the year I decided to push for it, I came up with the idea.

I was at home with a couple of my friends and we would always do like business planning and vision boards and so forth.

And so for some reason, I always write the date down, before you start writing anything, the first thing you do is put the date down.

You don't know what you're gonna write, but the date is first.

So it just stood out to me, so 14, and I'm really big on numbers and energy and things like that.

I knew 14, but 14 just wasn't enough.

74 was the year my brother was born.

He passed away in a car accident and he was a very artistic person as well, very smooth, very energetic, a happy, loving individual.

And I said, "Well, what can I do to keep his memory going?

2014, they year decided to start my business, and 74 was my brother's birthday.

And I put them together, and it just, it never went out my head from there.

I wanted keep his memory alive by doing so.

And 14 is always to just remember, like you had this vision in 14, keep going.

It doesn't matter when you started, as you long as you don't stop, you'll get to where you need to go.

(bright upbeat music) My favorite event that I've had here so far, we had an exotic paint and sip.

So we had a male muse, so that was very interesting.

And the ladies, we had drinks and such a great time.

Then we had a chicken champagne and cupcake wine pairing.

That was very classy.

It was well done.

We had a wine connoisseur kind of explain everything to us regarding the pairing and things of that nature.

I have another paint and sip coming up.

We have a mixology lesson here.

The purpose of this place when we use our venue or rent the venue space out, is to be creative.

Whatever creative idea that we can come up with that I don't think has been done already within our community, or even if it has been done, just bringing it here in a classy way and giving people something different to do.

And that's like my main goal with every event that I have here.

Like people go, "Hmm, you're having that at an art gallery?"

"Yes, we are.

It's creative.

It's a form of art."

(Sekoya laughs) (bright upbeat music) Like, huh, like a kid in a candy store.

And that's that very feeling that I knew that I was in the right, like lane and I was doing what I was supposed to do, because I love to help others.

I love to see others grow.

And I have had several artists come to me and go, "This is my first time even hanging something on the wall, so I don't really know what I'm supposed to do here."

And they're like, "Do I do this?"

And it's just, okay.

They don't know their own talent, just like I once didn't.

But it makes me feel amazing.

Especially when their grandparents, like he said, come in, they bring their mom and dad.

So for my grand opening, just to see the artists standing by their work with their family, or people walking in and saying, "I'm here for this artist," or this or that.

That's my purpose.

That is my purpose, to get these artists the exposure that they need, how ever I can do so.

So it just makes me feel amazing to see their growth and know that I can be a part of encouraging them to keep going and not giving up.

(bright upbeat music) - Next up, I'm gonna meet up with Not Yo' Daddy's hot sauce.

Now, if you love hot sauce like me, you're gonna wanna hear this story.

Let's go see what Not Yo' Daddy's hot sauce is all about.

(bright upbeat music) - [Richelle] It's pretty wild, really.

I do frequently have people tell me, "Hey, when are you guys gonna restart that online store?

Because I'm trying to put together my package of Akron goods."

And to know that we're contributing to that for people, and they ship it off to their family, or they send it to someone who used to live here, and they wanna remind them of home.

Like, it makes you feel like part of the fabric, part of the community, like your hands are adding to the character of this place.

(bright upbeat music) - Not Yo' Daddy's Mexican hot sauce, that was actually my wife, Richelle's dad, you know, one day we're friends down when we were still mobile and just kind of fantasizing about naming this hot sauce.

She just, "You know what?

It's not your daddy's recipe, because it's your daddy's, right?"

And so I'm like, "Oh, that's funny."

And it was just kind of a play on words and people thought it was good, and so we're like, "Yeah, let's slap it on."

And it caught on.

(Cristina laughs) 'Cause it's not your daddy's recipe, because it is my daddy's recipe.

(bright upbeat music) I have been into the scotch bonnet, that we use for our bold bonnet sauce.

It was a special flavor, a special blend that we created.

And I was not one to dive into the scotch bonnet sauces, they just seemed like maybe a trend or whatnot.

And then that one time that we made it, we just selected that pepper and ever since then it kind of has been my more favorite hot sauce.

I still only get our hot sauce as scotch blended.

And for other ones, I've also always loved habaneros.

In Mexico, depending on some of the restaurants, some of the cuisines maybe a little more central, southern Mexico, they do pickle habaneros with red onions.

And so I always love that, you know, play on that citrusy flavor, not so much the smokier flavors or the grassy flavors like a jalapeno.

I kind of like the bright fruitiness of the habanero or the scotch bonnet.

Or, you know, this, it's gonna sound very crazy, but this summer I grew my own Carolina reapers and my own Trinidad scorpion.

And the Carolina reapers are just amazing.

I mean, I am on fire every single time, but I literally just eat them like on a little piece of sandwich.

It's insane, I'm a little bit insane when it comes to that.

But yeah, both of those are also just very fruity, very bright.

And I just kind of dig that, in my food.

(bright upbeat music) - When you're able to know the people that made the gift, it's such a better giving experience, because you have a story to go along with it.

You might say, "Oh yeah, have you ever met the hot sauce lady?"

You know, everybody calls Cristina, hot sauce lady.

So, you know, "Have you ever met the hot sauce lady?

She made this, they make it right here in Akron, and it's personal."

And then of course the benefits of, you know, if the hot sauce is bringing in money to this community, then we're gonna go over to Sweet Mary's and spend the money there, you know?

And it's a gift that keeps on giving, when you're giving gifts that come from the people that you know, somebody just down the street, it really makes a difference.

And I think a lot of people like to have those meaningful gifts.

And what's more meaningful than knowing exactly where something came from, knowing the people that use their hands to make it.

Knowing the story that comes behind why they got into the business that they're in.

(upbeat music) - Well, I think one of the things that I wanted to share too, was just kind of how thankful we've been to our small business partners here in Akron.

I mean, it's something that you do have the support, you know, for some other businesses you have usually city or like the small lending organizations.

For us our lifeline has really been our friends that are small business owners, or they're managing small businesses like this space, the Trailhead event space, you know, again, Kaley Foster has come through for us in so many ways.

But we're able to borrow spaces like this, we don't have a space of our own yet.

You know, we are at Sweet Mary's bakery, making hot sauce there as well, and we're able to make it free of cost to us.

So, you know, we are able to keep some of those costs sorta down for right now just because they really have almost like subsidized some of our hot sauce making, and I just think we're very thankful to, again, both (indistinct), and Kelly for helping us out as well as (indistinct), for, you know, making sure that we still had a spot over at the Northside Marketplace when we had to close up our actual retail space.

Again, Lee, Coleman Bloom, Matthew Moore has also been a great partner alongside, and of course Akron Honey companies, you know, Wesley he's been amazing in terms of also providing some key tips here and there, and what to do or bringing us along for the ride with his market days.

You know, you see stories like that, you hear about it, we really have experienced it, the amount of helpfulness with the community, but specifically these people, right?

That, selflessly, they just want to help us, selflessly, they just wanna see us succeed.

And I get the goosebumps, seriously, because everyone's just so nice.

And we try to do the same for them as much as we can, but those people particularly just have always put themselves out there, making sure that we have a way to continue and continue succeeding.

And that's just something that is priceless, as corny as it sounds, but it is.

(bright upbeat music) - I come from blue collar roots and you do things yourself, you fix your car, you change your oil, you do it all yourself, you don't ask somebody else for help.

But if you're going to be an entrepreneur, you can't act that way, because there's way too many other people out there who know more than you do and wanna help you.

And you gotta take it.

And if you don't, you're going to regret it.

- Now, if you're looking for a unique gift or something that's just different.

This is a place you're gonna wanna check out.

Let's go see what the NoTique Boutique up here in North Hill is all about.

(calm music) - Well, I've always had these two things; My work was always social work-related, and then in my personal life, I have always enjoyed making things.

And those were kind of two parallel paths until recently that I found a way that I could unite them.

So I can work here, I can run this store, and I can help other entrepreneurs develop their business, and I can promote economic and social justice by supporting local entrepreneurs here in the shop while also making my own products and selling them in the shop.

(enchanting music) I call them gnomies, they're little heirloom style rag dolls that are characters called gnomies.

There are also some friends they have that are mushroom people that I call shroomies and some cloud people as well.

I mostly make gnomies.

So they're little dolls with gnome shaped heads.

(enchanting music) One thing that I have learned in life that I really try to bring into my work here, is that in order for women to be able to fully participate in civil society and in the economy, is that they need to have ways to do it that are flexible, and that accommodate the fact that they have children.

And so what I tried to create here is an environment where everyone, the makers are comfortable to bring their children in with them.

Their children can come to meetings.

I give all their children some of my little dolls and play with them.

You know, me and the other entrepreneurs here, our kids know each other and play together, and we're all very understanding of the importance of our children and having them participate in the community and have us do what we love to do, and then also be able to pay attention to our children.

So in everything we do here, we try to make it as child friendly as possible, and be accommodating to mothers, so that women can participate.

(upbeat music) We're building another generation of entrepreneurs because we let our kids be here, and we let our kids explore.

We're building another generation of artists and chefs.

My son is fascinated with the hideaway kitchen and their Caribbean food.

He'll go into the kitchen and see how they do it.

He wants to come every Friday and eat their food.

You know, the children of the Ethiopian chef are delightful, she's got three little ones.

I love when she brings them in on Saturday and I'll play with them and I'll ask them to help me in the shop.

And they learn something, and I knit them a little blanket.

They think it's magic, that I can crochet, you know?

So maybe there'll be the next great crochet seller, who knows?

I like having the kids around, and they all learn from each other.

(upbeat music) The products here, this goes to local people who are making things, and local products are better for the economy in multiple ways.

You know, the money is going back to other local people who then spend it on other local people.

And so you're supporting local people rather than large corporations.

A lot of the vendors here are using recycled products, which is good for the planet.

And you're also reducing shipping 'cause the global shipping is a large contributor to global warming.

And then also a large proportion of our makers are people of color and women.

And so you're promoting their economic development rather than a corporation, that are usually owned by the people who have more power in our society.

(bright upbeat music) We've got a variety of vendors.

We've got vendors who have been doing this awhile, that they can scale up their production and make a lot of the same product.

And then we've got a lot of vendors who were brand new.

I just found on Instagram, where like local people are making cool stuff.

And I said, "There's a market for that product.

I think you should sell it here."

And so they don't produce a whole lot of that product, you know, this is their incubator space.

So, you know, you're getting something really unique.

(bright upbeat music) Just try it, just make a few for fun.

What's the worst that can happen?

You enjoyed yourself, you didn't make money, whatever, you know?

And then try to sell it, sell it to some folks that you know locally, and then just see where it goes.

And you might end up making things that you didn't think you'd be making.

I started out making dresses for my daughter, and now I make dolls.

(bright upbeat music) In Temple Square, like just the business owners in general, like we're all kind of becoming friends here.

I walk next door... My children are half Nepali, so I walk next door to the Nepali market and talk to those folks there.

And my kids, you know, go in there, "Namaste", and they're so excited.

And I get my lunch over there sometimes on days when we don't have food, I love their mango lassi.

And, you know, some of my vendors I've taken over to Arsenic and Old Lace, because they have some products that would be compatible with their market.

So we take them over there and we collaborate a lot with the Coconuts Boutique next door.

And we've got things from all over the world.

(bright upbeat music) - Thank you once again for watching this episode of "Around Akron" with Blue Green.

Now if you have any questions, comments, or you just wanna drop me an email, you can reach me at www.AroundAkronWithBlueGreen.co.

Or you can catch me on social media.

Thank you, and have an amazing day.