Mar 31, 2017

comments Fount products are designed, cut and sewn in Cleveland." COLUMBUS, Ohio - Fount, the Cleveland-based leather goods company whose popularity has exploded over the past few years has taken the show on the road and opened a store in the Short North Arts District of Columbus. Owners Phillip and Jackie Wachter have a thing for artsy neighborhoods and they're not afraid of taking risks. Just seven months after opening their first store in the Gordon Square Arts District of Cleveland they saw an opportunity in the culturally rich section of Columbus and jumped on it. The new store officially opened March 25. As for risks, in just about three years they've taken Fount from being a team of two with a small table at the very first Cleveland Flea to 36 employees, two stores, a beautiful manufacturing studio in the ArtCraft Building and a successful stint on LeBron James' show "Cleveland Hustles," which earned them a limited time partnership with chef and entrepreneur Jonathon Sawyer Have a look at Fount's Gordon Square grand opening party Fount in Columbus looks much like the Cleveland store, though it is bigger at 1,100 square feet (compared to 900 square feet in Cleveland). It has the same chic vibe, exposed bricks, impressive dark wooden displays and shelves and the same smell of rich tanned leather and earthy candles. The Wachter's once again hired Cleveland carpenter Paul Taiclet of Taiclet Construction, LLC. His dark stained cabinetry and shelving stretches high into the tall ceiling leaving the bags well spaced and easy to examine. Architectural Justice of Cleveland created the granite countertops found throughout the store. Some of the furniture comes from Arhaus Furniture and Birchwood Supply Co., another Cleveland Flea regular, provided the vintage taxidermy. "We had more time to plan and build this location and with way less pressure. The Cleveland shop had to open in 30 days with the "Cleveland Hustles" deadlines," says Phillip Wachter. "We learned a lot from opening that store." Fount products are designed, cut and sewn in Cleveland. Most pieces are made from full grain Italian leather with a smooth oil and hot wax finish, which helps it develop a rich patina over the years. The line consists of several designs in bags and accessories including the popular Bellfield Tote. Fount supports other artists, as well, and carries jewelry including work by Clevelander Anne Harrill of Oceanne. There are hats by Bailey from Pennsylvania, the oldest hat maker in the U.S., cards, skincare, fun socks, candles and more. "Now that the store is open, we're going to concentrate our efforts on new designs and styles," says Wachter. "We've got several ideas and new things coming including a larger duffel bag and some new twists on the tote. We're also bringing back our dog collars and leashes and creating a line of belts." Fount's customer base is vast and loyal. Wachter says the average age range of their customer is about 33 to 48 years old. Fount is also making strides in online sales and will be revamping the website soon. They've shipped bags as far away as California and Alaska. They also plan on participating in the monthly Cleveland Flea events this summer where they have often practically sold out of inventory. The Short North is on High Street north of downtown Columbus near the Ohio State University campus. The district is lined with old tightly-packed brick buildings that have been given new life as art galleries, boutiques, specialty shops, bars, coffee shops and restaurants. FOUNT details: Cleveland: Address: 6706 Detroit Ave. in the Gordon Square Arts District. Hours: Closed Mondays; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Columbus: Address: 668 N. High St., Columbus Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday Links: For information and shopping go to FountLeather.com . For up-to-the-minute info go to the  Fount Facebook page and follow @FOUNTleather on Twitter and @fountleathergoods on Instagram. See the  Short North Arts District website for information. Price Ranges: Prices start at $22 for small accessories up to about $1,400 for the extremely unique and difficult to make Banjo Bag. The Bellfield Tote straps are sewn with special techniques and carry a lifetime warranty. Cleveland Flea dates: April 22, May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9 and Oct. 14. See the  Flea website for more details including event hours as they become available. Fashion Flash