Cincinnati’s Main Street, as do most Main Streets in other towns, stretches right through the heart of the city. Most people cross it to go to baseball games or cross under it on the highway. Head north, and you’ll pass by the old Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company building on Fourth, the Ohio Bookstore and the county courthouse.
Almost 10 years ago, I used to take taxis here on the weekends to go to bars like Have a Nice Day Cafe or Japp's. A marriage and a baby later, I rarely have the chance to visit OTR stretch of Main Street, but this section is experiencing a revival to rival any going on in Over-the-Rhine.
Over the summer Dan Korman of Park and Vine fame announced he was moving his eco-friendly store to 1202 Main St. (You might recognize the Belmain building as the old Kaldi’s coffeehouse location.) One reason for the new space is to concentrate on creating a full vegan grocery store to offer fresh-pressed juices from Fab Ferments Kombucha and coffee and espresso beverages from La Terza.
“This is a beautiful and culturally alive area full of people who see potential in every corner of the neighborhood and are doing something about it,” says Korman, an Over-the-Rhine resident. “It’s an ideal place for budding entrepreneurs.”
[Note: Park and Vine is now open on Main Street. The Grand Opening celebration is Oct. 29 during Final Friday. Get details here.]
Other recent Main Street arrivals include Atomic Number 10, ForkHeartKnife, Jack Potts Tavern, Mixx Ultra Lounge, Original Thought Required, Neon’s Unplugged and You Do Yoga. Along with the newbies, there are still tried-and-true favorites that have been Main Street staples over the years. Here are some downtown locales to add to your “must-visit” list that are along the main drag.
For the mind
InkTank (1311 Main St., 513-421-WORD) has been serving local writers and cultural enthusiasts for years. The center offers writer’s programs, including recovery programs for men and women, open mic nights on the first Tuesday of every month and a book bank filled with local authors’ volumes. All programs are open to the community, or you can donate to InkTank by becoming a member or purchasing their magazine, Textures.
Envoi Designs (1332 Main St., 513-651-4229) is a graphics and interactive media firm with some big name clients on its list, including locals like P&G and the Cincinnati Preservation Association, as well as national clients like Disney and G.I. Joe. Their web site (
HYPERLINK "http://www.envoidesign.com/"
www.envoidesign.com
) is even fun to navigate.Iris Book Café (1331 Main St., 513-381-2665) serves up good discussions, good books and even better sandwiches. They also offer free wi-fi until 10 p.m. so you can look up something online to confirm your argument or just browse the web.
For the body
Original Thought Required (1307 Main St., 513-246-4362), also known as OTR (yes, name is cleverly the same as their neighborhood), sells unique streetwear-inspired men’s and women’s shoes and clothes. The distinctive shop sells fashion designs you won’t find at the mall, including items from Cincinnati labels like Sucka 4 Love and aTYPICALsOLE.
Atomic Number 10 (1306 Main St., 513-226-0252) is the place to go for vintage clothes, shoes and bags.
Yoga itself is experiencing a resurgence, especially thanks to movies like the summer blockbuster Eat, Pray, Love. You can hone your skills at the family-friendly You Do Yoga (1319 Main St., 513-227-7160), which offers Yoga and Pilates classes as well as meditation, martial arts, Reiki and Thai Yoga Massage Therapy. Just down the block is Main Street Yoga (1201 Main St., 513-703-4175), which offers Hatha and Ashtanga yoga as well as other seasonal events and workshops.
Cross over Liberty, and you’ll find Joyful Life Yoga (1601 Main St., 513-861-YOGA). Owner Sherry Joy (pictured above) offers a variety of classes in yoga, dance and therapy and will start offering Tai Chi and belly dancing in the fall. The store first opened in March 2010, but Joy hosted an official grand opening party Sept. 17-19.
“When I first heard about this space,” Joy says, “I had this vision of creating a corner of well-being, healthy living and just an eco-friendly place. When I heard Park
