From Dime Store to Zen Den: a Conversation with our New Landlords
In a recent chat with our new landlords, it became clear that the excitement for the Kindred Waters Collective runs deep.
Tom Swift and Jeff Phenix, longtime friends, bought the “post office building” about two years ago. The building is home to the local United States Postal Service, of course, but also to seven other spaces including our very own Unit A. Before Unit A’s newest tenants (Hello!!!), it seems that the space hosted many different people and purposes: a real estate office, a kid’s science and discovery center, a yarn store, a law practice. And who knows what happened before the internet? It’s rumored to have been a school recess room, and before that, a dime store.
Two years ago. That means that Tom and Jeff acquired this building in a time when a global pandemic was raging. No wonder they remark on the vacancies they saw around town, and within the very walls of 244 S. Benzie Blvd. They couldn’t be more excited to see the town’s main stretch fill up since then. The shift from empty spaces to a thriving community hub clearly resonates with them on a personal level.
Beyond their day jobs in manufacturing and commercial real estate respectively, Jeff and Tom revealed a desire to connect on a smaller scale. That’s why they’ve embarked on their own real estate journey, and why they’re trying to do it differently. Despite living outside Beulah, they strive to be hands-on and personal, available and responsive. I gathered that they have a personal investment in seeing small businesses succeed and enjoy being a part of making that happen. The landlords' genuine interest in the success of small businesses that contribute to the community totally aligns with the ethos of Kindred Waters.
However, when a collective of eleven local hippies* came to them about renting the available space for yoga, somatic movement, massage, and who knows what else, we wouldn't have been surprised if they looked at us with raised eyebrows. They didn’t. They’re stoked, and love the model. Shared interest is better for them and it sure is better for us. We are constantly reminded that Kindred Waters is only possible because of its collective heart.
No… we haven’t convinced our landlords to come to a yoga class, but the massages will be tempting.
In the "post office building" that is such a fixture of Benzie Blvd, Tom and Jeff see a bright future. Their willingness to navigate the unknown, support the success of Kindred Waters, and actively contribute to the growth of a shared vision speaks volumes about their commitment to fostering a thriving community.
As always, we are in this for all of us.
Kelley DeVine
Kindred Waters Collective Founding Member
*I have NOT confirmed that every collective member actually identifies as hippie. However, on an objective scale of non-hippie to hippie, we all certainly fall somewhere closer to the latter.