By Abigail Stopka, Better Kenmore CDC

Lori Julien opened Marigold Sol on April Fool’s Day 2021 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. What initially began as an equal parts passion project and a way to move her personal workshop out of her crowded family home has since grown into one of Kenmore’s most unique destinations for both DIY hobbyists and shoppers looking for one of a kind décor.

Lori initially rented workshop space in Wadsworth, but eventually her landlord sold the building and she was forced to move out.

She wasn’t planning to find a new location to rent, but her plans quickly changed when she and her husband stumbled upon a vacancy at 962 Kenmore Blvd. during a Kenmore First Friday.

She fell in love with the window wrapped store front and inquired about renting it right away. After securing the space, she quickly decided it would be an injustice to keep such a prodigious parlor to herself and realized it needed to be a brick and mortar shop and not just her private workshop.

This is when the inspiration to open the vintage shop now known as Marigold Sol, struck.

“Marigold is the flower for October, which is when I formally started my business,” Lori said when asked how she came up with the name for her shop. “Marigold signifies creativity. I wanted to do a play on soul – it has sun, light and creative soul but in a different way.”

When you first walk into Marigold Sol, you’re welcomed by a thoughtfully curated boutique full of custom and vintage pieces of décor – some of which have been salvaged and given a new life by Lori, with others crafted by her vendors and partners.

Additionally, it’s a place for Lori to share creativity through Marigold Sol’s workshops-where creatives and self-proclaimed “non-creatives” can learn new skills and craft pieces to cherish-regardless of experience.

“I want to create a design inspiration area [in the store],” Lori said. “I want people [to] come in and be inspired and have a vision of what they can do with the Wise Owl paint [I sell].”

Wise Owl paint is an eco-friendly woman-owned company out of Michigan designed with the crafty DIYer in mind.

After two years in Kenmore, Lori doesn’t regret her decision to open a shop on The BLVD one bit.

“It has been really good being on Kenmore Blvd.” Lori said. “I love what [former Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance executive director] Tina Boyes did for everything here and I am looking forward to seeing where [new Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance executive director] Josh Gippin takes it from here. People should know that Kenmore is a good place with good people who care about the community and want to see them succeed. They need to be here to see it.”

Marigold Sol will host its two-year anniversary celebration this Friday, March 31, from 6 – 8 p.m. The celebration will include snacks, scratch off tickets, discounts and more. Additionally, Marigold Sol is offering extended hours on Saturday from

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Make sure to stop by to congratulate Lori on two years on Kenmore Blvd. and check out everything Marigold Sol has to offer!

Marigold Sol is located at 962 Kenmore Blvd. in Akron and is open Wednesday Through Friday 12pm until 5pm, Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and by appointment by calling 330-803-0419. You can find them online at marigold-sol.com, on Facebook @marigoldsol and on Instagram @mymarigoldsol.

By Abigail Stopka, Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance

Sharness Dowdy is the proud owner of The Nite Owl located at 992 Kenmore Blvd. Open since 2021, the restaurant has become known as a Kenmore gem – specializing in food for the soul.

After working the graveyard shift for over six years, Sharness was inspired to open The Nite Owl when she noticed there were no restaurants open late to serve night shift workers like herself.

As a Kenmore resident, Sharness loves the many youth sports programs offered in the community and enjoys supporting her 9 year old son Jakhilan, who is a member of the Kenmore Youth Basketball and Football teams.

“Youth programs help kids engage in positive activities with other kids and it teaches them mentorship, team building and they can have fun while learning a new sport,” Sharness explained.

We sat down with Sharness to learn more about what inspired her to open The Nite Owl, and what she loves most about being not only a Kenmore resident but also a business owner on Kenmore Boulevard.

What Inspired you to Open The Nite Owl?

I worked at Akron General Clinic Hospital late at night and there were never any good food options open that late. From that point I decided that I wanted to change that, so I started planning my own restaurant. Planning this restaurant involved a lot of work. There was a lot of research involved in opening the restaurant, the logistics of running it, down to things like planning the menu. I used to cater for my friends’ businesses and that really inspired me to kick start this journey. I started out by selling only cheesecake and it really took flight from there.

Where did the name”The Nite Owl” come from?

It really comes down to the fact that I am just that, a Nite Owl. Which is why I always worked late shifts. Since I know the problems people who work late nights face when it comes to food options, I decided that I really wanted my restaurant to cater to them.

What Inspired you to make The Nite Owl a comfort / soul food restaurant?

I wanted the food I cooked for my restaurant to be the same food I would make at home and feed my family with, that’s what makes it special to me.

What is your favorite dish to cook?

I really love cooking all kinds of food so this is a tough question to answer. I would have to say that my favorite dish to cook is the Alfredo because I get to use my artistic culinary skills and I can make it look pretty.

Do you offer any specials during the week?

Yes, we have multiple specials throughout the week.

Tuesday: Cheeseburger and fries for $5.

Wednesday: Six piece wings and fries for $9.

Thursday: Buy any trio and receive $1 off your order.

Friday: Fish and fries for $10.

How did you learn to cook?

I learned to cook from my great grandmother and my grandmother. I have many memories of being very young and standing on the chair in front of our stove helping them cook. The first thing I ever learned to cook was skillet fried corn and baked chicken.

What is the most popular item on the menu?

The most popular item on our menu is hands down our rollies. The best way to explain our rollies is comparing them to an egg roll with a non-traditional filling. We have so many different types of rollies. The flavors we offer for our regular rollies are chicken bacon ranch, cheeseburger, philly cheesesteak and chicken philly. We also offer deluxe rollies which are cheeseburger mac, firecracker chicken and rice, BBQ chicken and rice and our soul rollie. You can get them with a side of boom boom sauce to really complete the taste.

Our rollies are a huge hit!

Are you planning on adding anything new to your menu?

Yes, we are planning on doing something new for the summer. I want to add some lighter food items to the menu. I have this really delicious salmon salad that I am excited to make!

As a Kenmore resident, what do you love most about Kenmore?

I love seeing all the new businesses opening up on Kenmore BLVD. I keep seeing vacant buildings turn into businesses and it feels really good. It feels like Kenmore is coming back to life.

What is the most rewarding part of managing The Nite Owl?

The most rewarding part of managing The Nite Owl is seeing all my hard work come to life and just being here and being able to be a part of it. Owners of large corporations don’t have the opportunity to really be a part of their restaurants. I love being a small business owner and being able to really contribute to my business. I get to do a mix of everything. I really love being here and being in the kitchen.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome with The Nite Owl?

The biggest challenge was definitely the life curve that the pandemic threw at us and everyone. It has been very hard to get people to work for me and inflation forced us to raise our prices which hasn’t sat well with a few of our customers, it is hard for them to understand why we have to raise our prices.

Tell us about a time when a customer made you feel like a million bucks.

One of my regular customers stopped by the store the other day and he always buys the banana pudding but this time he was praising it and asked me if I could make him a huge pan all for himself. It is such a good feeling seeing people enjoy my restaurant’s food.

What do you find unique about Kenmore?

I think the Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance really makes Kenmore unique. They help to bring a sense of community to Kenmore. They are always looking for new ways to uplift the community and are helping to bring it back to the way it was before and I think that is so great.

Is there anything else you would like for people to know about The Nite Owl?

I want people to know that we have been working really hard and we are just happy to serve the community.

The Nite Owl serves food for your soul Tuesday through Thursday from 4 p.m. – 12 a.m. and Friday through Saturday from 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. from its location at 992 Kenmore Blvd. You can place your order through their website theniteowlrestaurant.com, DoorDash, or in person at the restaurant. Follow them on Facebook at The Nite Owl, your mouth will be watering after scrolling through their photos showcasing their delectable food options.

And if you are in the market for a new job they are hiring a full-time cook, put your application in here.

After eight years of opening primarily only for live music and events, The Rialto Theatre now serves food and drinks four days a week.

In need of a new lunch time hang out? Ready for a new after work haunt? Then we’ve got good news for you.

The Rialto Living Room – which opened inside The Rialto Theatre in late 2021 – is now open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a full bar and food from Paninoteca, including hand crafted paninis, tacos, desserts and soups.

Aside from SRINA Tea House & Cafe’s brief residency inside the Rialto Living Room, the space had previously only been open during concerts, performances, and other events.

Rialto co-owner Seth Vaill said he hopes the new hours will attract a regular lunchtime and after-work clientele. Vaill added that the Living Room also features an “open stage,” where patrons can both perform and enjoy live music.

“We want this to become a favorite new spot for people to stop in for a sandwich or a drink or conversation and feel like they are in their own living room,” he said.

The bar – which features over 30 beers – and restaurant combination has already proved popular amongst the musicians and concert goers who have had the opportunity to experience it since Paninoteca began serving up its signature sandwiches last fall – the most popular of which is the “La Roma” which includes ham, pepperoni, San Marzano marinara, fresh mozzarella, banana peppers, and basil.

“It’s so exciting to see this space activated even when there isn’t live entertainment,” Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance Marketing & Events Director Corey Jenkins said. “It’s the perfect place to meet friends for dinner and a drink after work and unwind, and it’s great to have another dining option on the boulevard.”

The Rialto Living Room is located inside The Rialto Theatre at 1000 Kenmore Blvd. For more information, and to view the full food and drink menu, visit therialtotheatre.com. Follow Paninoteca on Instagram and Facebook.

This week marks the second anniversary of Just a Dad From Akron’s grand opening at 937 Kenmore Blvd. In two short years, founder Kenny Lambert has seen his business evolve from purposeful clothing store to a safe place for the community to visit and those in recovery or struggling with addiction to find support – and the support side of the business is poised to continue evolving.

Earlier this year, Kenny announced the launch of JADFA House with Kristi Watson – a Kenmore-based photographer and his partner. JADFA House is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that will provide recovery support and services to those struggling with addiction – something Kenny knows about firsthand.

Before getting sober and opening Just a Dad From Akron, Kenny spent years struggling with substance abuse and addiction on Kenmore Blvd. Now he and Kristi will help others aspire to sobriety on the same street where he once struggled.

“Building a safe place for people to recover, find God and come together in the name of faith and recovery was my inspiration to start the JADFA House”, said Kenny.

JADFA (an abbreviation of Just a Dad From Akron) House will serve as a safe place for people who are working towards sobriety and is built on three pillars: Faith, Recovery and Community. The goal is to create a space where everyone can feel safe and welcome to grow stronger in recovery, build healthy friendships, and continue building a mission for positive change.

“We don’t want to limit JADFA House to only people in recovery” explained Kristi. “We want JADFA House to benefit everyone in the community. We are planning to have cookouts, 5ks and other events to help bring good people to Kenmore Boulevard.”

JADFA House will offer sober support meetings where participants are encouraged to share their experiences and strengthen their commitment to recovery along with weekly activities like yoga, bible study, dinner nights, and morning meditation to those who seek out its services and become JADFA House members.

In addition to in-house sober support, JADFA House will help its members receive treatment and detox placement, community outreach education, and training.

JADFA House provides members with a sense of community, belonging, and positivity.

“It is our role to create a space for the community [at JADFA House] where everyone can feel welcome and free to come as they are and be themselves, knowing they can step into a space without any judgment” a JADFA House member said.

Kenny – who credits the birth of his daughter as the inspiration he needed to get clean – also knows how hard it can be for parents to get help and support when they have their children, which is why JADFA House also provides activities and supervision for children while their parents attend sober support meetings.

While JADFA House is already providing sober and mental health support through weekly meetings (every Friday at 8 p.m.) at Just a Dad From Akron, Kristi and Kenny say they hope to host the grand opening of JADFA House and move the support meetings there this summer.

In the meantime, don’t miss Just a Dad From Akron’s second anniversary party this Saturday, March 11, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The event will feature prizes and exclusive merchandise.

For additional information or support, contact JADFA House at info@thejadfahhouse.org or visit their website at thejadfahouse.org. Find JADFA House on Facebook at The JADFA House 501c3. JADFA House will open at 916 Kenmore Blvd. in Summer 2023.

After years of devoted service, Tina Boyes will pass the torch to a new leader.

For most people within the Kenmore community, Tina Boyes hasn’t just been the executive director of Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance (KNA) for the majority of the organization’s existence – she’s been synonymous with the organization itself. Working tirelessly to transform Kenmore Boulevard from a tattered and worn business district whose glory days seemed like distant memories into Akron’s vibrant and emerging music row that’s welcomed sixteen new businesses in the past two years alone.

In late 2022, Boyes decided she wanted to begin serving the Kenmore community in a new way and informed the KNA Board that she would be transitioning out of the executive director role in order to run for the city’s Ward 9 council seat – a seat once held by her father Don Brode, and her grandfather George Brode.

Upon learning of Boyes’ intentions, the KNA board began working to identify the organization’s next leader. After an extensive search process and with significant consideration given to the skills, experiences and expertise needed to successfully guide KNA in its next phase of growth the board named Josh Gippin as executive director, effective February 20, 2023. Boyes will remain on board as outgoing executive director to aid with the transition through the end of March.

“Five years ago, the KNA board hired me to help revitalize Kenmore Boulevard at a time when most people considered it to be a net negative.” Boyes said. “Since then, we’ve cleaned up the space, filled vacant buildings with neighborhood-serving businesses and resources, and reignited a sense of community that has been missing for a long time. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together and I can’t wait to support Josh as he takes KNA to the next level.”

Gippin brings an impressive skillset to the position. He has a wealth of experience in the real estate arena, has been active within Akron’s Highland Square neighborhood, understands the value of networking and fundraising, and has operated his own video production company for nearly 20 years, producing independent documentaries, along with promotional and brand videos.

“Josh brings the right amount of confidence and inquisitiveness to the role, not to mention a great energy and a willingness to jump right in and offer up fresh ideas,” KNA Board Chair Eric Cooper explained. “Leading up to the hire, Josh answered the interview questions thoughtfully and thoroughly and it was obvious in our conversations that Josh brought a high level of passion and compassion to the job, both of which are key components of nonprofit work.”

Under Gippin’s leadership, KNA will continue building upon the strong foundation laid by Boyes and will remain dedicated to attracting businesses, visitors, musicians, creatives, families, and residents to The BLVD through hard work, collaboration, and events.

“My family and I are so excited to become a part of the Kenmore community. Long before accepting this position, we had invested in Kenmore real estate, so we too are stakeholders. Tina has nurtured KNA from its very inception, and it has come so far. I am honored to be entrusted with carrying KNA and The BLVD into the future, together with you all.”

Please join KNA in welcoming Josh Gippin as executive director and be sure to say hello when you see him on The BLVD!