New Kensington's Ethical Hope to cultivate life, community with larger space

Meredith Hedeen believes her newer and bigger space can provide people in New Kensington with a little more hope.

She is nearly quintupling the size of her store, Ethical Hope, by moving to 938 Fifth Ave. and having a grand opening Friday during Downtown New Kensington’s Fridays on Fifth event.

“I’m really excited to see how the community takes it,” Hedeen said. “It’s not so much what I hope, but it’s about seeing them enjoy the space and what it can offer.”

A soft opening Saturday was “well-received,” she said.

The front portion of Hedeen’s new digs is a “gift shop with a little bit of everything,” she said.

Wares at Ethical Hope each have a story: They’re made by artisans worldwide who have overcome trauma, such as human trafficking or severe poverty.

Products sold include home goods and decor, garden items, toys, apparel, jewelry, purses and bath-and-body products.

Hedeen started Ethical Hope in 2018 with an online store. She attended markets and found her way to New Kensington, where she opened a small brick-and-mortar store at 932 Fifth Ave. last year.

Hedeen and her family — husband, John, and daughters, Anna, 16, Ivy, 14, and Ella, 12 — have spent the past couple of months moving into 938 Fifth Ave., which is the former Feisty Goblin game store building. The old space was about 500 square feet; the new space is 2,500.

More than a store

The space will also be more than a store: Hedeen plans to tap into local talented artists to provide art classes, and the space also has a small event room for group meetings, movie nights or gatherings like baby showers.

“I would love to see it as a community hub: people hanging out, people wanting to spend time together to make it something not just for special things, but an everyday ‘want to be there,’ ” Hedeen said.

Like Knead Community Café with food and Olde Town Overhaul for businesses, Hedeen hopes the space can cultivate life and community in downtown New Kensington.

Having a gift shop, entertainment and event venue all in one can feed the local economy and support other businesses, said Michelle Thom, operations manager for Olde Towne Overhaul and Ethical Hope’s building owner.

“We’re really excited to see her expansion and happy she’s been so successful in a short time,” Thom said.