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Kindred Market on E State Street Athens, Ohio. (Provided by the Athens Messenger)

Shopping Local

April 14, 2022

4 local stores in Southeast Ohio to visit

By Grace Brezine | For The Post

Finding a new store to shop at can be difficult, especially in a place you are not familiar with. On the contrary, navigating small shops in your own hometown can be tough, too. Southeast Ohio is a place that has various mom and pop shops that sell one-of-a-kind items and farm-to-table produce. Whether you want to take a new adventure or add a stop to your Sunday shopping, here are four local stores in Southeast Ohio to make some savvy purchases at:

Kindred Market in Athens, Ohio

Kindred Market and Cafe is located on East State Street in Athens, Ohio. Its beautiful architecture and graffiti on the side wall pulls customers in to discover the plethora of items that they offer. This small market is the perfect spot to pick up organic products and kickstart a healthy lifestyle. They are locally, family-owned and dedicated to serving the Athens community. Kindret Market’s website showcases 650+ local products that are all from local businesses within a 100 mile radius.

At Kindred, you can find anything from produce and baked goods to apothecary and beauty products. If you become tired during your shopping, their cafe offers a variety of items from salads and sandwiches to coffee and smoothies. Another great feature of this business is that you can shop on their website. if you have a busy schedule or prefer to have non-contact grocery trips.

UpCycle Ohio Thrift Store in Athens, Ohio

This thrift store located on West Union Street is not only a place for shopping but also a place to have access to normal tools you probably don’t have lying around. The store features items like clothing, furniture, books and crafting supplies all at an affordable price. Many customers praise the selection of vintage clothing and other items that they found for great prices.

The makerspace features woodworking tools, welding, sewing machines and space to discuss business ventures with knowledgeable and experienced members of the community. UpCycle has created this part of their store to give customers an opportunity to learn about the fields of woodworking, metalworking, fiber and fabric arts, as well as recycled plastic production in Southeast Ohio. You can learn more about getting involved through their website.

End of the Commons General Store in Mesopotamia, Ohio

This family-owned business features over 1,000 bulk food products, houseware and kitchen gadgets, homemade fudge, hand-dipped ice cream and a large variety of treats. The website. displays the large room filled with old-fashioned soda and penny candy – both a child’s and adult’s dream. The beautiful establishment was founded in 1840 and has since been owned by the Schaden family.

Not only is this a place to satisfy your sweet tooth, but you can also stop by their kitchen for either a snack or meal while you shop. The website shows many happy customers with their picks from the cafe and smiles on their faces as they are ready to indulge. End of the Commons is a great place to stop at for a variety of items.

Athens Farmers Market in Athens, Ohio

The Athens Farmers Market is now open for the season and may be a great thing to add to your bucket list this summer. You can find some of the best and freshest produce in southern Ohio here, as well as baked goods, specialty beverages and condiments. As you make your way through the website., you can see the elated looks on customer’s faces and the carefully curated items being sold by each vendor.

Not only will you find amazing food here, but there is also beautiful greenery and flowers for sale. Local artists can also be picked out of the crowd, selling jewelry, paintings, lotions and more. Taking a trip to the flea market on a nice summer day is not only a great experience but also a rewarding one with all of the goods you get to bring with you home.

AUTHOR: Grace Brezine
EDITOR: Emma Dollenmayer
COPY EDITOR: Anna Garnai
PHOTO: Provided by the Athens Messenger
WEB DEVELOPMENT: Paige Fisher