A Merchant Millennial
How Barberton’s Merchants Association has been shaping up since its first Fourth Friday words and photos by Mary Menzemer
into her own personal business. Her story
coming from Akron
Association include a representative from the
on a big challenge. There is no job description,
and Canton and
mayor’s office, a member from the South
human resources department, or anyone to
adds an interesting
train her on what her duties will be in the coming months, or possibly, years. What was
twist on the ever-
all over the region. We’ve had to expand
Summit Chamber of Commerce and a rep from the Barberton Community Foundation. All
the event into Second
together, the association has 30-plus contacts
Twenty-three year old Hannah Gerbec is taking
once a three-person job is now a one person
going conversation about millennials,
job: the head of newly formed Barberton
many of whom are
Street, and we already and resources to help them to continue to have five more grow and revitalize the downtown area into an
Merchant’s Association.
urban dwellers and
businesses who want
young professionals.
to join in.”
When three high school seniors from Barberton High School, Justine Liddle, Ashley Cook and Katie Ebner, formed the monthly Fourth Friday event in downtown Barberton, they encouraged businesses to form the Barberton Merchant’s Association alongside. But now they are busy with graduating high school, applying to colleges, and attending the DECA International Career Development Conference competition in Nashville which was April 23-26. So with the teens unavailable, who better to be the forefront of the association than one of Barberton’s very own small business owners? “I’ve always had an attachment to this town, and I really want everyone in the association to work together and grow so we can have even more events,” Gerbec said. “It’s the direction where I want to take my life, and continue to be involved in business and politics. As stressful as it may be, I’m enjoying it.” Gerbec helps run Aunt Hannah’s Antiques and Collectibles with her mom, and has even recently purchased some real estate to turn
Other business owners have seen the benefit, too. “We’ve done really well on Fourth Friday, and it’s been pretty consistent,” said Jason Miller, owner of Stuff Genie Emporium on Tuscarawas. “People have been coming into my store and saying ‘we just moved here’ or ‘we’ve just moved back’. We’re trying to make it a more trendy, artsy area.”
There has been plenty of talk about what young professionals are doing, and how kids are coping with life after college, but what about young entrepreneurship? Could Barberton start becoming the perfect breeding ground for young entrepreneurs, or for those who don’t like so much the idea of college, and are looking to use their interpersonal and leadership skills?
independently run art mecca. “The area alone definitely has a strong art feel to it considering the rich history of the downtown buildings,” Gerbec said. “Every kind of art is gaining popularity in the area and everybody just wants to hit one location. That’s why all of the stores work so well together.” The Merchant’s Association wants to continually advertise their event and try to make it stand out from the First Friday event in Canton. Miller says they also hope to gain some funding over time to help pay musicians and artists who are currently dedicating their time for free for the evening. // Mary Menzemer believes in maximizing the
It very well could be, but it would have to be based upon high population growth and hip, startup businesses making their headquarters there. While these things aren’t impossible, they’re tricky, and would most likely take a number of years to completely settle in.
potential of any city. She also just started a blog Miller has recently taken leadership over Blue called Peace Signs & Pulp. Check it out at Sky Drive In in Wadsworth, hoping to turn it back into a farmer’s and flea market. He’s also a peacesignsandpulp.blogspot.com. part of the board of the Merchant’s Association, owns an auction shop, and is a contributor on
“The first night of Fourth Friday we had traffic jams in the store,” Gerbec said. “People are
There have only been three Fourth Friday events so far. Among the others in the Merchant’s
the Altered Realm radio show on KRMA Radio.
Creative Devils
The next Fourth Friday will be from 5 to 8 pm on May 27 on downtown Barberton’s Tuscarawas Street.
Harrison Nevels, Junior “I used to be really bad at art, but now it’s something I like and that I’m good at. My freshman year, I did a Gandalf portrait in chalk. I want to get into tattooing or special effects makeup after high school. I just like the idea of being able to do something that you like for a career, and I
They may not get a certificate and recognition on the loudspeaker, but some Barberton HS kids deserve our recognition for staying true to their art and themselves
don’t feel pressured when I do art. It’s just something that I want to do, nothing that I’m told to do.”
words and photos by Mary Menzemer
Mikaila Carrington, Senior Remember the cool angel sketch we published last month done by Xavier, a high school senior? Or how about those bloody, but oh so cool, anime sketches done by Jazmin, high school freshman and aspiring animator? We have some more awesome things that other teens have done, and we’re not stopping there. Here’s what these Barberton High School students have to say about their work, in their own words. Know any art students worthy of recognition? Email arts@thedevilstrip.com and tell us about them!
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| THE Devil Strip / MAY 2016 • VOL 2 • ISSUE #5
“Making jewelry is fun. I draw posters for my room, too. I have them everywhere. I started drawing when I was little because I didn’t have a TV or anything. I want to teach art in high school. I think education should be to improve the individual rather than the entire class as a whole. So I’d focus on each of the kids. My mom one time wanted to get a tattoo of a fairy, and I had done one in 3D. She took it and got that tattooed on her chest. That’s the art accomplishment I’m most proud of.”
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Photo courtesy of Bright Star Books and WIC
arts