Code,955045,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Subject,Jeff Moreau,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Date,8/9/2017,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Interviewer,Sarah Nemeth,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Abstract,"Jeff Moreau, owner of Sweet Moses, discusses the merits of owning a business in the Detroit Shoreway, Gordon Square Arts District. He provides, in rich detail, his creative process in constructing the atmosphere of his authentic 1920s-30s soda fountain and treat shop. He further shares his hopes for the Gordon Arts District, Detroit Shoreway as a whole, and the future of his successful business. Foremost, Moreau has found community engagement most gratifying. He took his dream of owning a small business and turned it into a destination which encourages further economic investment into the neighborhood, as well as, helps sustain the essence of what made Detroit Shoreway a neighborhood in the first place. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Tags,"Detroit Shoreway, Flats, Gordon Square Arts District, Sweet Moses, businesses, small business",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Special Notes,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
minutes:,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
0,"Sarah Nemeth introduces the interview. Born in Parma, 1965. Lived in Parma until 8. Remembrances from this time centered on family, house, and block. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
1,"Moved to RI. Couple older siblings stayed in Cleveland, maintained Cleveland connection. Permanently back in the area for the past 25 years. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
2,Was not conscious of the east and west side differences until college. Mentions the Parma stereotypes.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
3,"Lists where some siblings spread out to from Parma. Mostly lived in the ""inter-ring suburbs."" ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
4,"Graduated from a high school in Columbus, then went to Miami of Ohio. During college summers went to the Flats. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
5,"Became more familiar with the east side and the Flats during college. Describes his first impressions of the east side, especially in comparison to Columbus. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
6,"Describes Fairmont Blvd. and University Circle; many boarded up, grand homes. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
7,Lists some of the places he frequented when at the Flats. Describes the Flats. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
8,Describes the Flats. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
9,Describes the Flats. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
10,Describes the Flats. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
11,Describes the Flats. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
12,After college lived in Cincinnati and then was relocated to Cleveland for a year. Moved to Los Angles for 3 years. Then returned to Cleveland. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
13,"His wife, originally from the east side, moved to Lakewood to try something different by living in a suburb. Thoughts on east v. west side. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
14,"The further out suburbs were almost ""foreign."" Thoughts on east v. west side. Lakewood resembles Cleveland Heights.  ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
15,Worked in advertising for 25 years. Wanted to make a move from that into owning his own business. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
16,"Came up with the 1920s-30s soda fountain concept, focusing on the drug store era. His inspiration for the business. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
17,"Business plan for a neighborhood soda fountain, but needed to find a place. Started looking in 2008-09 for a place. First exposed to Detroit Shoreway via Lucks. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
18,"Visited businesses in Detroit Shoreway, felt a resurgence coming. His wife had first suggested the area. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
19,"Questioned Detroit Shoreway because the area was still an investment gamble. But, really wanted to be in an older neighborhood with a traditional storefront. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
20,Returned to Detroit Shoreway because there was still opportunity on Gordon Square. Ability to purchase the building was another factor in the decision. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
21,Explains why he wanted to purchase the building where is business would be located. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
22,"Demographics of Detroit Shoreway. Explain why he did not choose Rocky River, currently resides. Gordon Square factored into the success of the business. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
23,Opened up shop in 2011. At this time other neighborhood improvements and investment were happening in Gordon Square Arts District. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
24,"Had faith in the area, but others did not see its potential the same way. List of the pioneers that took a chance and turned the neighborhood around. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
25,The pioneers laid the foundation for him to have a successful business in the area. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
26,Owners of small businesses affect the image of the community. Being in a neighborhood settings encourages owners to engage more with their surroundings. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
27,"Small, unique businesses draw people in, as opposed to chain/corporate businesses which have multiple locations. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
28,"People want what's easiest or in their comfort zone, they have to be drawn out by unique businesses in order to explore. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
29,History of the building at the Sweet Moses location. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
30,History of the building at the Sweet Moses location. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
31,Explains/describes how he was able to create an authentic 1920s-30s soda fountain shop. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
32,Explains/describes how he was able to create an authentic 1920s-30s soda fountain shop. The greater soda fountain shop community. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
33,Describes how he came up with the recipes. There is a base for all ice cream then you can tweak it to make it original. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
34,"Sweet Moses takes everything down to the basics, then makes classic combinations. Starts to describe the businesses opening day. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
35,Continues to describe Sweet Moses' opening day. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
36,Describes Sweet Moses' opening day. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
37,Describes Sweet Moses' opening day. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
38,Describes Sweet Moses' opening day. Explains his creative process in making the parlor's interior authentic. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
39,Explains creative process in making the parlor's interior authentic. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
40,Explains creative process in making the parlor's interior authentic. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
41,Explains creative process in making the parlor's interior authentic. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
42,DSCDO brings merchants together. Explains what is the Special Improvement District and how it brings merchants together. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
43,"Became more involved in the neighborhood. On the Board of the Gordon Square Arts District, Economic Development Committee (DSCDO), and the Special Improvement District. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
44,What started out as just a business turned into something bigger; almost like a movement to turn around the neighborhood. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
45,Attention is being paid to Gordon Square because that is where the investment is. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
46,Believes that improvement is organic. If you make an impact in one targeted space it will radiate naturally out from there. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
47,Different target areas will be improved and then the gaps will naturally be filled in with investment. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
48,Differences between development in urban verses suburban areas. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
49,"Thoughts on creating an atmosphere of activity, even off thoroughfares. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
50,Thoughts on what makes a neighborhood. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
51,Describes his favorite dish from Sweet Moses -- the Bob Feller Sundae (Ball Park Sundae). Most of the dishes are named after Cleveland places/people. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
52,Continues to describe the Bob Feller Sundae (Ball Park Sundae). Describes the Shoreway Sundae. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
53,What does it mean to be an art district? The challenges of being branded an art district. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
54,The challenges of being branded an art district.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
55,The challenges and rewards of being branded an art district. Mentions the area south of Madison and hopes improvement can be made there. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
56,West side neighborhood districts are separate destinations. Hopes in the future the separate destinations can be brought together to make a whole connective neighborhood. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
57,"Uncertain what the future will hold for Sweet Moses, will they expand? Wholesale? Resale? Does not want to lose the core of the brand. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
58,Questions of duplicating the process?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
59,"When he first opened, the closest ice cream shop was 2.5 miles away. Since then, ice cream stores have opened up all over the place. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
60,He may never have the same opportunity again that he had when creating Sweet Moses. The interview ends. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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