Mother-daughter duo Patricia and Mariah Goelz are opening an eco-home store called Cultivate this fall in the King Street District at 2766 Park Street. If the name sounds familiar, then you may have visited the popular vegan cafe called Southern Roots Filling Station. Mariah and JP Salvat started Southern Roots in 2014 at 1275 King Street, just a block away from Cultivate.
We sat down with Mariah to talk about the new shop.
What inspired you to open Cultivate?
Summers spent in the Asheville , NC area exposed us to farming, preserving and an incredible assortment of creative folks and artists. We wanted an outlet for that here in Jacksonville. Our community is growing and (we think) interested in these things…i.e. the Maker’s Market that occurred recently with great success. We are excited to be able to have a venue with enough space to incubate our passion and celebrate & feature the passions of others.
What kind of products will shoppers find in the store?
Customers will be able to purchase goods for the garden, home and child; things to enhance a healthy home. With our back to basic mission we have supplies to inspire cooking, preserving, crafting, and gardening. We also carry children’s eco-friendly toys and organic clothes. Our mission also includes a “made in the US” and local whenever possible.
Tell us a little about the location. As retail shifts to a more curated experience-oriented marketplace, its not lost that a homegoods store is located in an actual home with a character that mirrors the surrounding neighborhood.
We love Riverside and the surrounding neighborhoods for their walkability and easy access, as well as the character and charm. The way the physical space is set up is rather home-like so that the shopper might actually see themselves using the products in their home. We also have a commercial kitchen that will be available for rent so folks with small food projects can expand their business.
You’ve had great success with Southern Roots Filling Station nearby, including a recent expansion. What lessons have you learned with Southern Roots that have prepared you to open Cultivate?
The lessons are endless really. There are so many incredible small-batch and locally made products that need a place to shine. I love the vendors that we offer at Southern Roots like Stubees Honey or Little Black Box Baked Goods and we hope to feature even more small-scale creators at Cultivate, both from the Jacksonville area as well as around the country.
I think the biggest thing I’ve noticed with Southern Roots is that people crave community, a sense of belonging, and a desire to live more succinctly with each other and our natural world. It’s easy to just shove food in your face when you’re hungry and it’s easy to order something off Amazon, but there is really something special and more fulfilling when you take the time to stop and nourish your body with good food or when you stop in a locally owned store to purchase something you need. We can really make a difference in our community by choosing the later path.