Upcycle Parts Shop, a creative reuse shop full of second-hand treasures in Cleveland’s St. Clair Superior neighborhood, is in the midst of evolution and growth as they approach their 10-year anniversary this summer. Following a recent renovation, what was previously a 900-square-foot storefront packed to the brim with a seemingly endless supply of upcycle treasures has been transformed into an open, ground-level studio with plenty of seating for programs and meetings.
Upcycle’s basement space at 6419 St. Clair Ave. is still an extension of the shop’s treasure trove of goods, which are popular with educators, makers and hobbyists. They’ve also recently expanded into a former hardware store next door, and this new space is full of familiar trinkets, such as repurposed art supplies, fabric scraps, paper, books, and toys, as well as some new donations like assorted faux flowers and greenery. It’s lined with shelving, and bright windows illuminate that perfect find for your next project. It’s there you’ll find Lauren Baird, a volunteer-turned-staff member, ready to help you find a new source of inspiration.
“It’s a busy, busy place, I love it!” Baird told me. “One of my favorite things about this place is when people come up to me and say, ‘I have the most random question…’ and I love being able to say, “Yeah, that’s right over here.’”
Baird learned about Upcycle through an employer, and once she walked in she knew she was in a familiar, exciting place. “How did I not know about this place sooner?” she quipped. She has worked in many areas of the shop, from programming to merchandising and preparing their upcycle innovation kits. Now, as leadership and staff roles are transitioning with the new expansion, she will be focusing on sorting through donations as donation manager.
“I love going through and sorting all the donations, people are so generous with the things they bring us,” she said. “They’re looking to get rid of things while being sustainable, and we’re here to give old things new life! It’s such an easy option to just throw things into landfills; we appreciate them coming to us.”
Upcycle supporters drive success
Upcycle has a shelf with “Donate anytime items,” which consists of bottle caps, plastic mesh from produce, bread ties, square bread tabs, and more. Keep this in mind when you come across these items in your kitchen. I’ve already started keeping tabs on my bread tabs to donate to Upcycle myself.
Upcycle’s supporters have driven its success, its leaders say. Within the shop, you’ll see several name plaques along the walls and on cubbies behind the counter – made by a local metalworker – displaying the names of supporters and sponsors of the shop.
“We have a very strong support system of volunteers and community members,” said Kaliya Smith, Upcycle’s interim executive director. “We’re able to rely on the relationships we’ve built, and it really keeps us going.”
Plaques also highlight neighborhood champions, like family businesses with a longtime presence in the area. Cofounder and former director Nicole McGee, who now works as a strategy consultant, dedicated one in honor of her son that says, “Thanks for sharing your first decade with Upcycle Parts Shop. Love, your mom.”
McGee and cofounder Devon Fegen-Herdman are helping the organization transition and grow. Fegen-Herdman is now board president of the nonprofit. “We still work closely together, and are focused on new goals in our strategic plan, including ways to build an ecosystem of upcyclists, makers, and artists within our space,” said Smith.
Working with artists
Upcycle encourages artists to contact them if they use upcycled materials in their practice. Using their new space, Upcycle has big goals to expand their reach through partnerships and collaborations. They’re also planning to hold upcycling classes in the studio. “That is another reason why our new ground-level studio is so important. We can open our doors more often, and get people inside to mingle and build relationships with like-minded people,” said Smith.
Smith and program director Frankie Conti are self-proclaimed makers. “My favorite thing working with adults is waking up that creativity in them, there is always that one person in a college-level class or a team-building workshop that says, ‘I’m not creative at all, I’m going to be horrible at this,’ and I always encourage them to try. I don’t believe that story that ‘not everyone is creative,’ all you have to do is try and pull that creativity out of yourself,” said Smith. “As adults we get so used to routines, but must remember to leave room for creative expression.”
Conti added, “Also, people have a fear of failure, especially when it comes to creating with physical elements. That is something I want to help people dispel within this space, and something I am really excited about. The act of making with your own hands and building that confidence is very important for adults and children alike.”
Smith is about a month into her new role, while Conti, a longtime customer, is a fresh face on the team who will be taking over Smith’s former program manager role.
Engaging the community
Both are excited to add new ways to engage the community and to use the fully accessible ground-level studio. They speak with such passion and excitement for the new ways they can inspire and begin to light new sparks of creativity within St. Clair Superior and beyond. They’re especially excited by the fact that the new ground-level studio space is accessible to anyone.
Previously, because of accessibility issues with the group’s programming space being upstairs, “folks couldn’t just walk in to sit and craft,” said Smith. “Our external programming took us to suburbs like Solon, which was great, but we have a great opportunity to engage our neighbors with community gatherings, as we just have so much more to offer in this new space.”
One thing that this big move showed was the depth of community support. Many new faces showed up to help them move and began to get involved this year. For example, Liz, a volunteer who was busy in the shop when I came to visit, helped Lauren find creative ways to display and organize the shelves. “About 40 people showed up to help us move in one weekend!” said Conti. The group is working to create a new volunteer system with three levels of volunteer support.
Conti also has a lot of ideas for new programs. Currently, they do a lot with schools and teachers. One of their most successful endeavors has been making innovation kits out of upcycled materials which teachers can order off a place called Yippee marketplace. “We have a storefront where we offer our innovation kits, which are basically an ‘upcycle buffet’ in a bag,” she said. Upcycle works with teachers and students to teach them about upcycling and impart the skills of social entrepreneurship, which is basically creating a business that also has a social benefit. Upcycle Parts Shop is an example of this kind of business, since they sell products.
In the future, they’d also like to offer more programs for adults and seniors. “We have a lot of customers in that age range,” said Conti. “Many of our seniors have invited us to breakfast or coffee, and now we can host them here! It’s really exciting to have that new opportunity.”
Conti and Smith also touted a new program called “Saturdays on St Clair,” where they plan to have drop-in, pay-what-you-can crafting programs on Saturdays in the studio space. They had their first iteration of this on Saturday, Feb. 17th, when they were making tissue paper flowers. Conti plans to be in the shop on Saturdays to begin activating the space with “drop-in crafting.”
Keep an eye out on their Instagram page for posts and announcements about what is to come.
Upcycle Parts Shop is run solely on donations, so keep them in mind when you start your spring cleaning. They’ve coined the term “upcycle magic” for when people bring them what they need when they need it. “Oftentimes when making kits we may run out of a certain material, like CD cases or twist ties, and then out of nowhere, Lauren will call me and tell me we just got a huge donation of exactly what we needed,” said Smith. “It’s the upcycle magic.”
Donations can be scheduled online, and with the new space, donations can conveniently be accepted at the side door on Addison Rd. Donation appointments can be scheduled here.
Upcycle is offering pay-what-you-can lantern making workshops starting on Saturday, March 2nd, from 1-3 pm. These will take place in their new ground floor studio. These workshops are a part of the Towpath Trail Lantern Parade, in partnership with Canalway. Free lantern making workshops will also be offered on March 3rd and 9th, from 1-4 pm at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Community Arts Center in the Pivot Center building at 2938 W. 25th St. Participants are encouraged to bring a recycled jar, but there may be some provided for use. The Lantern Parade takes place on March 9th at 6:30 pm at Sokolowski’s Overlook at 1202 University Rd. in Tremont.
Interested in working with Upcycle Parts Shop? Fill out their program inquiry form or reach out directly to Frankie Conti or Kaliya Smith here.
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