Paul Bass Photo
The Rev. Kevin Ewing told a business-rebirth story to a crowd gathered in the Ninth Square — then invited those assembled to start telling their own stories.
The crowd Thursday evening heard Ewing describe how he has created the 2.0 version of the Grove Studios. The 71 Orange S. storefront was the original location of the Grove co-working space, which moved into bigger state-funded quarters around the corner on Chapel Street. Meanwhile, Ewing has bought and reopened the original Grove as a “digital storytelling” co-working center where entrepreneurs rent space and hold meetings and events; and where people can rent studios by the hour to make their own videos or radio shows or get help from pros in doing the same. (Click here for details on rates for members and a la carte customers.)
“Let us help you tell your stories,” Ewing told the crowd. “[Now] make sure you go play with the the studios.” The noshing and schmoozing and exploring then commenced. City transit chief Doug Hausladen, pop-up brunch entrepreneur Nadine Nelson, and fashion designer Neville Wisdom (pictured) stopped into the green room, where a continually-recording video camera awaited visitors looking to tell their stories. Nelson’s daughter recorded a spot urging people to eat at her mom’s temporary brunch spot this Sunday.
Over in the new Grove’s radio studio, facility manager Kevin Edwards worked the board …
… while WPKN host Binnie Klein interviewed visitors passing through about their own stories.
Grove intern Verneisha Snow took a break editing people’s photos by the windows fronting Orange Street to give city economic development official Mike Piscitelli a tour of the premises …
… including the rental meeting rooms.
Ewing has already fully rented out the offices to digital storytellers like Ghanian-born Nana Poku and Kwaku Awuah, whose 54 Kingdoms fashion line operates worldwide out of an office at the Grove.
