What started as an idea and then evolved into a small table display at First Wednesday Art Walk will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Diversions is Downtown’s new “relaxation store” in the corner of the Elks Building at West Adams and Laura streets.
The idea started when Daniel Day read an article on the Internet that designated Jacksonville as the fourth-most-stressed city in America.
“We decided we wanted to change that,” he said.
Day and co-owner Ida Metzger bought a small inventory of candles, incense and other relaxation-related products and set up their wares in The Library for Art Walk. Soon, the display had grown to a 12-foot table.
When an artist from a Downtown “Off the Grid” gallery offered Day and Metzger the opportunity in January to sell their incense, candles, oils, herbal teas and meditation supplies in the gallery, they decided it was time for a permanent retail presence.
Diversions soon developed a customer base of Downtown workers who have stress in their lives. The business steadily grew until the gallery closed and the artists relocated.
Metzger said she and Day were Downtown a few months ago and noticed the space at the Elks Building was available. They called the broker, signed the lease and began transforming the former quick-print shop into Diversions.
“Downtown has a good vibe for us. Art Walk is what got us started, so we wanted to make sure we were open the first Wednesday in October,” said Day.
In addition to products that are designed to help people have more peace in their lives, Diversions will offer classes in meditation, yoga and other relaxation techniques, Metzger said.
“Stress is a natural part of life. You just have to learn how to manage your stress,” she said.
The walls above the shelves and display cases will be available for artists to exhibit their work. The debut exhibit by Miguel “The Sand Man” Garcia is a collection of landscapes.
“We just ask that the art be related to relaxation,” said Day.
Following the ribbon cutting scheduled at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Diversions will be open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.
To view the products offered by Diversions, visit diversionsjax.com.
@drmaxdowntown
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