I love secondhand shops! I see them as historical adventures, the characters being hidden all about the shop, each having its own tale to tell and just waiting to be discovered. There is something so living about these places, so inviting to me. My mind starts to wander as I look at old furniture and decades old pieces of children’s art, pottery, home furnishings and knickknacks. Where have they been? What have they seen with their secretive eyes? What stories lurk inside their non-living spirit? We will never know, but the warmth, or perhaps chill, these items exude add to the collective community of ‘residents’ that live inside their current home.
The proprietors of these secondhand homes are usually equally as interesting.
I was in Ravenna recently and decided to make a stop at It’s All Fine. Nestled among other shops at 250 West Main Street, upon opening the door I immediately was greeted with a warm hello and then, “We apologize for the mess!” Two gals were sorting through their newest donations trying to decide if these new items will reside in this shop or perhaps their sister shop in Warren or another spot. The center of the shop was strewn with all sorts of goodies as they went about their business of sorting. “No need to apologize,” I said. “I love to see a working secondhand shop that is always changing up their inventory.”
It’s a rare day if I am wearing anything that hasn’t been purchased from shops like these, so my eye caught a cute little pink tank top which I mentally marked as mine, then proceeded to take a number of pictures as I chatted with Emily and Brittany. These two have known each other since 6th grade! What fun to be able to work alongside a good friend every day. It was obvious they were enjoying their task, so I asked them what they liked best about working here. “Going through the cool things we receive and working with the residents,” was their response.
It’s All Fine is not just another secondhand shop in town. It’s clean, packed with a large variety of beautiful, gently worn or used pieces, has a very welcoming spirit and also is part of a larger organization which sets them in a category by themselves.
I was escorted to the back where it opens into a very large area that resembles something of a mix between a home and workshop. A sanded headboard lay on a table with a number of other wooden pieces nearby which have already received a stain finish.
Back a little further I see an oven and can smell the fragrance of something that has recently been baked. On the table sits a dozen or so little bags labeled with the flavors. Fresh natural dog biscuits had been baked and bagged by the humans in this portion of their building.
It’s All Fine is not only a secondhand shop, but it trains and employs people with developmental disabilities, giving them opportunity to contribute to the Portage community they live in. I met three lovely ladies: Sarah and Mary, and then Tiffany, the Day Habilitation Supervisor who was helping with the biscuit baking. Here is where the individuals learn to be hard workers, pursue excellence in their jobs, follow through with tasks, work with others….and many other qualities that make people better and allows them to experience personal satisfaction. It’s a wonderful program operated by Leeda Northeast. You can read about them by clicking HERE.
If you are strolling through Ravenna and looking for something different, something that offers not only affordable and quality clothing and home furnishings, but also a unique experience in itself, It’s All Fine is the place! You’ll discover a world within a world, and probably leave with something that was marked just for you!
It’s All Fine
250 West Main Street
Ravenna, Ohio 44266
(330)552-2180
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Have you ever been to It’s All Fine? What did you think? Leave your comments below!