What is blogging without the blogging community? It would be like living in a deserted town or having conversations with yourself. Both of those are well and good, I suppose, if that’s the kind of life you want. But I crave community and connection with other people, especially those who can relate to my quirkiest ways. I first started out on this weird journey as a blogger in order to meet and share with people I couldn’t find in my local community. But lately, my blogging world and real world collide all of the time! Most recently I was so excited to meet up in Cleveland with some local Northeast Ohio and North Western Pennsylvania blogger gals, thanks to Erin who coordinated the afternoon with brunch at Touch and shopping at Sweet Lorain

The first time I met up with bloggers was also the first time I met up with someone I had met online. This was about five years ago, and while I was pretty sure none of them were psycho killers, I was still pretty nervous. They had already formed first impressions of me that were only based on the little bit they knew of me from my blog, so what if they didn’t like me in person? And what if I didn’t get on well with them? What if the whole thing ended up being a massive drag?

So, here I am, five years later, still freaking out before blogger meet-ups. Maybe it was just because Liz was there that I felt like I could completely be myself, but this time around was extra fun! It was just like meeting up with a bunch of old pals. I can’t wait until we can get together again.

Have you ever been to a blogger meetup? Were you as nervous as I was? If you’ve ever considering meeting up with local bloggers, but chickened out, I’d definitely encourage you to give it a try! And if nobody in your area has ever put together a blogger meetup, why don’t you be the one to plan a nice weekend brunch like Erin did, and maybe enjoy a trip to a local shop afterwards? I promise, it will be more fun than you expected.

T H E   B L O G G E R S :

Mandy of The Curvy Blogger / Julie of Orchid Grey / Liz of Yellow Finch Designs / Megan of Kiddo TV
Erin of Zero Style / Lauren of Someone Like You / Katy of Sugar and Chiffon / Jessica of Midwest Muse,
Jaclyn of Sharing My Sole / Karina of Beach and Dress / Dina of Dina’s Days /

above photo by Julie, black & white group photo below by Erin, all others by my iPod touch

And you thought my favorite treasure trove couldn’t get any better! Well, folks, it has. A local vintage seller, Violet Velvet, has consigned a section of The Bomb Shelter where affordably priced vintage clothes and accessories for men and women are bountifully displayed for our shopping pleasure. Come on out to Akron, Ohio, and places like this might make you second guess ever going back home. You think I’m kidding? I’m definitely not.

Even though Violet Velvet is located in an annex of a larger store, The Bomb Shelter, there’s plenty of room for several organized racks of clothes, and space for several shoppers to comfortably browse the great vintage selection. You won’t find high-end vintage at Violet Velvet, but I bet you’ll be surprised at the friendly price tags on the easy-to-wear ’50s-’70s clothes that are for sale there. Since there aren’t dressing rooms, I was happy to find measurements listed on many of the tags. I walked away with two garments that I happily discovered fit me perfectly! If you’re not a regular Etsy vintage shopper like me, you might want to know your measurements and bring along measuring tape to be confident that whatever you buy will fit you when you bring it home.

First and last photo by Kyle Michaels. All other photos by Mandi Johnson

Living in the rust belt these days means experiencing a lot of community revitilization, and also a surge of reclaimed industrial items that pay homage to our area’s past. Akron and Cleveland have historically been Ohio’s hub for industry, including large manufacturing plants that supplied the whole world with rubber and steal. Akron’s known as The Rubber City, and while they’re still hanging onto Goodyear and Firestone, a lot of businesses have gone by the wayside, leaving us with the industrial fallout that has recently influenced a decorating trend.

I’m happy that Northeast Ohio’s economy is springing back, and I’m so into the industrial decor trend that’s swept through after the manufacturing crisis. Marque signs, moving carts, neon lights, and steel cabinets combine perfectly with the patina and prettiness of vintage furniture and accessories. So, of course it’s amazing to find all of these things under one roof! We have such a place here locally, in the heart of Akron, Ohio, called The Bomb Shelter.

Located just off of Route 8 near The University of Akron sits what I think is Akron, Ohio’s best vintage store- The Bomb Shelter. It’s a large warehouse packed to the brim with an eclectic range of mid century vintage, mantiques, collectibles, reclaimed industrial pieces, marque signs, and well, basically anything you’ve ever wanted to find but never knew where to look. I dare you not to find a treasure inside! But if you do go to visit, be sure to budget a lot of time! It’s easy to get lost in nostalgia, or to just plain get lost while browsing at The Bomb Shelter.

The great thing about vintage shopping in Northeast Ohio is the affordable price point. Visitors from out of town are always surprised, and usually wish they had brought a moving truck! At The Bomb Shelter, you can find marquee letters anywhere from five dollars to one hundred, depending on how massive of a letter you’re looking for. Furniture prices range depending on an item’s collectible value (a mint condition arco lamp was priced at around four hundred dollars), but I spied a yellow mid century patio sofa for only one hundred bucks. Now I’m just deciding which of my recent finds needs to come home with me to be my forever friend.

“A Visit To” is a continuing series featuring Mandi’s favorite local haunts in Northeast Ohio.