Garrettsville – Valentine’s Day celebrates love, passion and beauty. So it’s fitting that Cleveland native and Hollywood actress Monica Potter is opening her new flagship store in Garrettsville on February 14. Monica Potter of NBC’s “Parenthood”, dramatic comedy and movie fame will welcome visitors to her new flagship store, Monica Potter Home, at 12724 State Route 88, Garrettsville, from 10am to 6pm on Valentine’s Day.
Monica Potter Home (located in the former Susan’s Antiques & Treasures) is the outgrowth of MrsPotter.com, an online store featuring custom-designed personal care and home products, linens, home decor, a dozen different candle varieties, ceramics, barn boxes, and rustic-chic-shabby gifts. From skin lotions to facial cleansers, body scrubs, lip balm, whipped soap, room sprays, aprons, tea towels, pillows, potholders, baskets, woodworking, clay ornaments, mirrors, decorative tea sets, brand products and renovated furniture — there’s something fresh, Ohio-themed and locally crafted among the eclectic mix at Monica Potter Home.
According to Monica’s sister and Garrettsville resident Jessica Brokaw, Monica is the owner and creative force of the store. “Every product displaying her MP initials was her idea and is locally made. She shares her concepts with local artisans (like candlemaker Stephanie Dietelbach of the former One Real Peach, ceramicist Tracy Shea of Shea Clay, carpenter Dave Wensel of 19th Century Woodworks, or various area seamstresses), who then customize finished pieces according to Monica’s designs. She’s a perfectionist. She calls me at least 10 times a day. She’s very involved and hands-on, right on top of everything. She’s the brains behind it all.”
In fact, Monica began formulating her own organic cleaning products in her home 15 years ago. It’s a family trait, apparently. The father of Monica and Jessica was a Euclid inventor with 37 patents to his name (including one for nonflammable car wax and a rotating lollipop). Jessica formulated the official MP hand sanitizer, developing her own balance of moisturizers, sanitizers and fragrances.
“This is a dream for us,” says Jessica. “Monica and I have always talked about going into business together some day. We just bought back our childhood home in Cleveland on Overlook Park Drive, and now this! It feels good to be part of the good things happening in and around Cleveland.”
While acting is still a priority for Monica and she just had a new sit-com pilot picked up by NBC, Jessica says that Monica Potter Home “is her passion,” and Monica plans to be at the shop at least every six to eight weeks. Conceptualizing new products and putting local people to work are big motivators for Monica.
“It’s almost fate that we’re opening up a store here and now in Garrettsville,” Jessica says. “We had been working with Stephanie already, and we were planning to expand our candlemaking involvement with her when she lost One Real Peach in the Garrettsville Fire. In fact, nearly all the artisans we work with now were victims of that fire. So the opening of Monica Potter Home is a way to reclaim some of that loss, and to help bring traffic back to Garrettsville. We’re really excited to be here. Strange to think, if it hadn’t been for the fire, things would have played out differently. Apparently, now is the right time, and we’re supposed to be here.”
Monica Potter Home employs a half dozen local shop employees, in addition to Jessica and Stephanie, including Jen Click (formerly of Miller’s Lawn & Garden), senior brand manager Coleen Bradach, Jen Cales, Jericho Sly, and Amy Marsh. As the business grows, more employees may be needed. Job applications will be available on Feb. 14.
During next Saturday’s grand opening, Monica will greet visitors while they browse the new shop. Hot chocolate and Tracy Garrett’s Top Tier Pastries will be served. A shuttle service will be provided between parking at the former turkey farm and the shop location. Please bring food donations of canned/dried goods or paper products in support of the Nelson-Garrettsville Community Cupboard.
At Monica Potter Home, the mission is “to make every house a comfortable, productive, and loving home.” Follow Monica on Facebook at www.facebook.com/monicapotter or at www.mrspotter.com. The store can be reached at (330) 527-2054.
