Tenants boost Emergency Arts’ second floor

The second floor of the Emergency Arts building, 520 E. Fremont St., recently received a shot in the arm.

Two businesses have moved into the exam room-sized boutiques upstairs, according to Emergency Arts co-owner Jennifer Cornthwaite.

“Emergency Arts has always been a grass-roots project, so with every six months that passes, more and more gets done,” she said. “I think there has been all sorts of upgrades that have come little by little . I think that’s why the space feels so organic.”

Andrea Lipomi opened Feetish Spa Parlor on Feb. 15, offering skin treatments for the feet, back and face.

Cornthwaite said the spa is a good addition that fits in well with the overall goal.

Lipomi was on a waiting list for months before the space became available. She said the wait was worth it.

“I’m impressed by what is going on upstairs,” she said. “It’s cool to see people get excited about it. We’re really a hidden gem up here.”

Tanya Walter, owner and artist behind the Lil’ Art Bodega gallery that has been on the second floor for more than a year, is now co-owner of Art Street Deli — an art supply shop that opened in February, too.

“I love Emergency Arts. The people here are so family-oriented,” she said. “I love the people.”

It is that family orientation that inspired Walter and her business partners to open an art supply shop in one of the city’s artistic hubs.

“I’m an artist, so I know what they want,” she said. “To get some of the more modern supplies, I had to travel to other cities and bring them back.”

Walter said the shop, which displays supplies in a delicatessen-style glass display case, is the affordable neighborhood option for the art community.

“You gotta feed that artistic hunger,” she said. “You want a little canvas on rye? We got that. Maybe a little side of spray paint? We got that.”

Until recently, only a few businesses set up shop on the second floor. Adventurous customers who wandered upstairs were met with a membership-based library, a couple of art galleries and even a temporary office for the Neon Museum at one point.

Lipomi said people are venturing to the second floor more and more.

“The level of interest and curiosity I pick up from people has been encouraging,” she said. “Hospitality is a crucial aspect to the entire experience. You can have great services, but with no hospitality, you fall short.”

Lipomi and Walter expressed a sense of being in it together, and Cornthwaite agreed.

“It has always been about the collective of businesses . Each should promote their own and the collective,” Cornthwaite said. “So it’s always a win, when someone has more folks coming through the door that wouldn’t normally be here.”

Cornthwaite said the building is constantly evolving, rewarding customers’ curiosity and adventurousness.

“We have incredible tenants, people who are passionate about what they are doing, who give time and energy to their community,” she said. “I think that says something about the state of Emergency Arts. I know we will grow and change — that some will come, some will stay . I’m just excited that we are coming up on three years and I could not have imagined the progress we have made thus far.”

Cornthwaite shares the same adventurous spirit as her customers and tenants.

“Where the next three years goes is up in the air,” she said. “I just know it will be a good ride.”

Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Nolan Lister at nlister@viewnews.com or 702-383-0492.