You Are Here # 9

You Are Here # 9: “I’d Tell Them I Like the People”

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Roy Williams is a 42 year old man who works at the Phoenix Coffeehouse in Lakewood. His favorite place is the Marjorie Building where the coffeehouse is located. Roy is a man of few words, but he soundly described what many of us love most about Lakewood. It’s a place to find friends, where kindness is met in passing on the street. Our short time together was more conversational than the “You Are Here” interviews usually tend to be, so I’ve taken the liberty of summarizing our discussion.

We met with Roy on a Saturday afternoon in January at the Phoenix Coffeehouse on Detroit Avenue.

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If there’s one thing Roy is clear about, it’s that Lakewood is full of nice people. In fact, when I asked Roy, “What do you like about Lakewood,” his reply was quick and sure: “Nice people.” That Lakewood is home to many nice folks is a theme that connects many, if not all of the people I’ve been lucky enough to talk with during the course of this project. I asked Roy to expand on this idea for me. “It’s nice to have friends in Lakewood,” he said, emphasizing that he has a lot of friends here. “Like Julie, the boss. She’s nice,” he said, referring to Julie Hutchison, owner of the Phoenix Coffeehouse where Roy works. He also enjoys spending time with his friend Mariana at the coffeehouse.

Working at the Phoenix has given Roy the opportunity to see some of his favorite local musicians up close and personal. He shared with me that Anne E. DeChant, Cleveland-area singer/songwriter, comes in to the Phoenix on occasion to work on her computer. “I’m her number one fan” he says, smiling.

Roy is also a big fan of many local businesses, particularly the Record Exchange. When I asked him what it was about the Record Exchange that he liked, he told me about their collection of videos and DVD’s, and that he is always able to find some of his favorites on sale there, like Disney movies. Roy also likes Marc’s, because of their sales.

Many feel that public transportation and Lakewood’s proximity to downtown Cleveland are real feathers in its cap. While Roy didn’t discuss going into Cleveland proper, he does like to take the RTA busses around Lakewood and into other communities.

My final question to Roy is one I ask everyone who participates in this project: If you were to convince someone why they should move to Lakewood, what would you tell them? The answer may come as no surprise: “I’d tell them I like the people.”

And so do we, Roy.

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You Are Here* is a project that highlights what Lakewood residents think and feel about their city. We feel that a project like this shares a great affinity with many of the community efforts beginning and ongoing in our city. We are witnessing the emergence of an engaged, pro-active and committed community dedicated to creating the kind of place that we want to live in. But the question remains: who are you? To that end, we would like to use this project as a forum to meet as many Lakewood residents as possible. We would like to photograph you in your favorite place in Lakewood and discuss with you what you feel makes Lakewood a special place. These biographical vignettes will regularly be published in the Lakewood Observer. Publishing them in the Observer means that you get to share, and other people get to learn about, who you are and what you feel makes Lakewood a special place. Ultimately, a quilt of individuals and experiences will be available to all who live here, and those who do not live here yet, strengthening the sense of community that is Lakewood, Ohio.

Are you interested in participating? Contact Jason Weiner and Kristine Williams at lakewoodandyou@yahoo.com .

*A photo-documentary project highlighting the individuals who live in the city of Lakewood, Ohio.

Jason Weiner lives in Lakewood with his wife, Kristine. He works and volunteers with several Philanthropic and nonprofit organizations, does research and plays drums. His favorite place in Lakewood is the Purple Martin house in Lakewood Park.

Kristine Williams lives in Lakewood with her husband, Jason. In addition to teaching 3rd grade, she paints and knits for local galleries. Her favorite spot in Lakewood is under the oak trees in her own backyard.

They enjoy gardening and watching the birds in their backyard with their two dogs (Max and Gracie), cat (Emily) and several fresh water fish.