“We’re very invested in sharing art with the community and figuring out ways to make it accessible to everyone.”
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Neighbourhood Living |
www.neighbourhoodliving.com
“While were working on the business plan we were keeping our eyes open for available storefronts,” says Miki. “The landlords here wanted a business that would contribute to the community. They liked what we wanted to do.” The partners couldn’t have hoped for a more spectacular space; the storefront is utterly unique and perfectly suited to their needs. Miki and Heather built much of the shelving themselves with the help of friends and bought a lot of the older – almost antique – drawers and cabinets from Junction stores. The store itself may be relatively new, but the fact that the fixtures and furnishings were sourced locally gives Articulations a pleasing sense of history. As for location, there were never any doubts. The Junction was a perfect fit for both partners. Heather likes the neighbourhood because it replicates the sense of community she felt growing up in her hometown of Keswick, near Lake Simcoe. She moved to the neighbourhood with her husband six years ago when she was still at university. “The Junction was a good compromise between York University and being downtown,” she says. “It feels like a small town. You really get to know your neighbours and people say ‘hello’ to you when you walk down the street.” Being close to High Park and nature made it feel even more like home. Miki likes the fact that The Junction is home to a variety of creative types. “There is a good number of artists, but there are also a lot of creative people with creative jobs in creative industries like design and architecture.” Full speed ahead Articulations opened its doors just weeks before Christmas in 2011. And thanks to Miki’s and Heather’s computer marketing savvy – “We started advertising a few months before we opened, using social media to let people know we were coming” – customers were ready to embrace the new venture.