Common PLace co.
Gather
Inspire
Educate
Abby + Michael
Co-Creators of Common Place
Since the beginning of our marriage, summer of '22, Abby and Michael, have worked to maintain three core family values. These values have become the core inspiration for Common Place and showcase their hearts for the people in their city.
1.
Adventure seekers
2.
Community Minded
3.
Generous Givers
Our HeartBeat
Common Place exists to create common spaces where creativity, education, and gathering inspire people to invest in the flourishing of their neighborhoods and cities.
Origins
2022
Untitled Collaborative
The Untitled Collaborative was born out of the desire to create space for photographers to pursue their dreams in Northeast Ohio.
A building that could function as an office, event, and studio space for creating. We held three events in rented studios as a means to begin establishing a following and community who could support this dream.
2024
Rose Ice & Coal
After moving to North Carolina, the Untitled Collaborative was put on pause. While there, the dream began to morph into a broader small business help center which outwardly would look like a public marketplace. The new idea was to purchase and renovate a historic building in our new city (The Rose Ice & Coal Building). Bringing in local entrepreneurs who desired to not only grow for themselves but to educate and bring more people into the shared space.
For example, If pottery is for sale and the potter brings in supplies to create a small workable studio, they would make profit from selling their wares, but also by hosting events and educating others, in turn causing the building to be in constant use. If the potter outgrew our space, we would seek a replacement vendor with the same philosophy.
2026
Common Place
Common Place was born in our return back to Northeast Ohio. Looking at the through thread of what was important to both me and my wife, we continued to land on the desire to inspire, educate, and gather creatives into a shared physical space. Taking pause at what truly links humanness and artfulness. As a result we are actively seeking how to facilitate and provide a local Akron gathering. After looking at a few buildings and dreaming more into what this might look like, we decided to simplify this vision by opening the doors to the most Common Place we can think of - our home.