Just in time for the holidays, a remarkable partnership has emerged between City Goods, JumpStart, and Ohio City Incorporated (OCI). This collaboration has led to the launch of a brand new food-focused retail concept that brings together local food entrepreneurs under one roof. Let's explore this exciting venture and the stories behind the entrepreneurs.

"Holiday Shopping Made Delicious with Local Food Entrepreneurs"

Launching the Grocery at City Goods

In the beginning of November, the Grocery at City Goods opened its doors within one of the six retail buildings at the City Goods complex. Located at West 28th Street and Church Avenue in the Hingetown area, this complex was acquired by OCI two years ago. Currently, the food-oriented shop hosts about 20 food-based businesses on its first floor, with plans to expand to the second floor. The City Goods complex provides accessible retail space for small businesses, where entrepreneurs pay a flat monthly fee and keep 100% of their sales."Liz Painter, co-founder and director of growth at City Goods, says, 'We haven't done a ton of food on site previously, and this fills in a gap in the whole ecosystem. We're testing this out as a pilot program through the holiday season, with hopes to continue and expand.'"The new grocery concept features a wide range of specialty foods, including local baked goods, wine, chocolates, lentils, granola, seasonings, and sauces. It officially ramped up during a Small Business Saturday event and will host pop-up activations throughout the holiday season.

A Jump Start to Launch

Lauren Smith-Petta, JumpStart's director of educational services, emphasizes the importance of getting the pilot program underway in time for the holiday shopping season."We fast-tracked this collaboration in October in order to give entrepreneurs ample holiday retail opportunity. Not only is it a great way for JumpStart, City Goods, and OCI to pilot a partnership, it's a great opportunity for JumpStart clients to test the retail market, earn revenue and get exposure during the holiday season. It's a definite win-win."The entrepreneurs honed their skills through JumpStart's entrepreneur programs, which provided coaching, cohort-based training in areas such as market research, profitability, merchandising, packaging, commercialization, and pricing. JumpStart continues to offer support, providing weekly guidance to help entrepreneurs maximize their presence at The Grocery."Smith-Petta says, 'Our clients have created amazing, delicious, and giftable packaged foods. The Grocery is well-stocked with diverse, high-quality products made by equally diverse and talented entrepreneurs. We're excited to see what this holiday season brings.'"

Entrepreneur Stories

Zahra Dobbin Finley of Zesty Compass Wine Collection has quickly made a name for herself."Zesty Compass is about more than just wine," says Finley. "It's about crafting experiences that bring people together and add zest to life's moments." With a range of wines including crisp whites, sparkling wines, and unique holiday wine gift boxes featuring wines paired with aromatherapy products, Zesty Compass has something for everyone.Finley launched Zesty Compass in 2021 after years in corporate operations. "As a wife, mother, and grandmother, I wanted to finally do something for myself. Part of our mission is reminding women that you can't pour from an empty wine glass. Self-care is essential."Navigating licensing complexities and building brand awareness was a challenge, but support from JumpStart's Small Business Blueprint Program was invaluable. "The program gave me confidence and clarity. It helped me refine my strategy and connect with a network of industry experts."The response at The Grocery has been overwhelmingly positive. "Customers love the quality and range of our wines," says Finley, adding that the North Star Sparkling Wine is a favorite.Other popular items include the bold Cabernet Sauvignon and the limited-edition Sunset Wine Cocktail. Looking ahead, Finley plans to expand regionally and nationally while staying true to Zesty Compass's mission.Nina Dvorak Lawless and Devon Climer have also made a mark with Mugsy Bakes."While Lawless prefers their Lemon Vanilla mix, Climer prefers Chocolate Lava, and Chocolate Lava is their best seller. Whenever people give our Lemon Vanilla a try, they're instantly hooked," Lawless clarifies. They anticipate their seasonal Chocolate Peppermint to be a sellout at the Grocery.The co-founders came up with the concept for Mugsy Bakes last year. "Devon frequently made mug cakes for herself and her family and grew tired of pulling all the ingredients from the pantry. Upon researching if the idea for a mug cake line existed, she came up empty handed for a brand that really fit the balanced, healthful lifestyle (while never vilifying dessert!) that she likes to live."After hitting the summer markets and testing their concept, they launched their business in October."They're convenient, nutritious, and never compromising on taste—we embrace life's simple pleasures 100% guilt-free," says Lawless. "All of our mixes also happen to be gluten and dairy free, although we like to say you'd never know unless we told you!"JumpStart's mentorship helped them launch with confidence, focusing on strategic growth and retail partnership training."The JumpStart program came at a perfect time for us as we were preparing to launch and it truly armed us with many tools and insights that we implement often," she says.The pair has received great feedback and validation in their short time at City Goods."We are really just getting off the ground, and we feel we're already cultivating a community of people who are loving what we are building and are truly so supportive of us," says Lawless. "We've received some great feedback not only about our current products but also possible innovations and directions that we could take Mugsy—it's amazing to hear."

One-stop Holiday Shopping

City Goods will have Sip, Shop, Snack events every Saturday through Jan. 4. Customers can enjoy beverages from the on-site bar, The Lounge at City Goods (formerly known as The Hangar), snack from food pop-ups, and shop the retail spaces. OCI will provide a free Ohio City Holiday Hop Shuttle from several shopping hubs throughout the Ohio City neighborhood every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. through Dec. 21."All the proceeds from the bar pour back into the [City Goods] project as a whole," Painter explains. "Another unique thing about the bar is people can actually sip and shop between all the buildings. All the buildings face towards each other and create a beautiful little courtyard space with string lights and we put bistro tables and things out there."

Holiday Hours

City Goods is located at 1442 W. 28th Street, 44113.The Shops and the Grocery at City Goods are open Tuesday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. They will be open Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Christmas day and New Year's day.The Lounge at City goods is open Tuesday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Happy Hour is Tuesday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Lounge will be open on Christmas Eve from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will be closed on Christmas day, New Year's Eve and day.Ohio City Holiday Hop Shuttle Pick-up and Drop-off Locations:Market District on Market AvenueLorain Avenue and Randall RoadDetroit Avenue and West 29th StreetWest 28th Street and Church Avenue