Warren – Midwestern Roots is the name of a new home decor and sweet shop opening September 6 at 410 Main Ave. SW in downtown Warren. It’s a labor of love and a source of satisfaction for Stephanie Dietelbach of Braceville. It also represents a return to her roots as a creative, tenacious business owner in the heartland.
Dietelbach arrived at the name of the new store by reflecting on her own upbringing and her particular sense of place. “Growing up a Midwesterner, it has informed who I am… a hardworking, salt-of-the earth kind of person.” The gift items in her store also reflect that sensibility and reinforce the shop’s slogan, “We Make It Best in the Midwest!”
Dietelbach is the former owner of One Real Peach, a similar but much larger type of store that graced historic downtown Garrettsville for five years before a devastating fire took down the entire Buckeye Block in 2014. After the fire, Dietelbach switched gears and became a real estate agent. However, she still sold her handmade soy candles and vintage-inspired decor at area craft shows as well as at the Villager Emporium and Monica Potter Home Shop, which she helped to open.
“I swore I would never have a business again after the drama of last time,” Dietelbach admitted, referring to her loss from the fire. “But for people like me, it’s just in our blood. We’re restless until we find our own place.”
For Dietelbach and business partner Amy Marsh of Braceville, that means Midwestern Roots, a welcoming shop in an old brick building showcasing “handmade, vintage-inspired decor with a farmhouse, homey feel,” as she describes the wares inside. The items evoke a mid-century, rustic, industrial theme, representing 15-20 craftspeople from the Portage-Trumbull-Mahoning region of Ohio as well as western Pennsylvania. Represented vendors will also host periodic workshops at the store.
In addition to decor items, Midwestern Roots offers made-from-scratch baked goods and chocolates, compliments of Dietelbach’s mother Linda Nash of Garrettsville and aunt Sandi Hardesty of Newton Falls, respectively. Nash’s specialties include dark chocolate peppermint patties; milk chocolate peanut butter cups; and coconut almond, maple walnut and coffee milk chocolate candies, among others. These are also available by special order for special occasions. Hardesty’s baked goods include cupcakes and cookies of all kinds, including old-fashioned buttermilk sugar cookies, also known as Amish sugar cookies… delicious by any name.
Lip balms, lotion, sugar scrubs and candles can also be made to order with selected flavors, fragrances and sizes for special celebrations, even made up as party favors or with customized labels.
The brick walls, wood floors and natural light streaming in from store windows all reinforce the earthy, yesteryear, natural vibe Midwestern Roots. Regular business hours are Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10am-5pm. Dietelbach is happy to be juggling her real estate business with the new store.
“I love being my own boss and doing things that allow me leeway, creativity and dealing with all sorts of people. Beyond that, I genuinely want to improve the community and showcase the talent that’s here, emphasizing the good things about Warren.”
A grand opening will be held at Midwestern Roots on October 12, where customers will find special deals, finger food, candy samples and more. A ceremonial ribbon-cutting will also take place with owners, vendors and the mayor. Stay up to date with all the latest by following the Midwestern Roots page on Facebook.
