Ruth Knoll doesn’t consider herself an entrepreneur, although she recently led one of the largest building restoration projects in recent history in downtown Clinton. “For me, it was purely a labor of love,” says Knoll, founder of the Clinton Arts Center. “It is a gift to the community.” And communities across Lenawee County are sharing in the benefits.
It was Knoll’s singular vision that led to the renovation and development of the Oak Openings building. It was clear that the downtown area needed a refresh, and Knoll often wondered who was going to step up and do something about it. As it turns out, she was the one. There were plenty of open spaces, but no buyers were interested. Knoll eventually purchased two buildings located side-by-side. One building was vacant. The other building was a yarn shop, but the owner wanted to retire.
Knoll spent a lot of time learning about the concept of placemaking and trying to figure out what the community needed. After meeting with local churches, the rotary club, and other community organizations, she concluded that the community needed three things. “People want a place to do fun stuff, a good restaurant, and something that will attract more people to the downtown area,” she says.
The Oak Openings building provides all three.
- The Clinton Arts Center offers art classes for residents of all ages, in addition to providing a work space for local artists and a gift shop filled with unique and hand-made items.
- Gallery 12 hosts art exhibits from local artists, as well as visiting collections from places like the Detroit Institute of Arts on a rotating basis.
- And Twelve restaurant offers an elevated dining experience with an approachable Americana menu that features locally-sourced, farm-fresh ingredients.
Elevated Dining Experience with an Americana Menu
“The restaurant brings in over 1,000 people a week,” explains David Munson, executive director of the Clinton Arts Center. “That means more people can experience the art, shop in our gift shop, and visit the other merchants in the downtown area.” Visitors come from across the region, including the neighboring towns of Adrian, Dundee, Tecumseh, Jackson, Chelsea and Ann Arbor.
The restaurant also provides catering, which enables the Clinton Arts Center to host special events, like the recent Bob Ross imitation painting class, which included food and cocktails for participants. Community members can also rent the space for parties and other private events.
Sparking Interest in the Area
In addition to attracting more visitors, Knoll hopes that this new venture will also inspire more people to relocate to Clinton. With ProMedica planning to build a new 58-bed hospital in the region, there will be a need to attract high-quality professionals to live and work in the community. Having a lively and accessible downtown area can help attract visitors and residents. “Quality of life and lifestyle within the community are important,” says Knoll. “This is what makes life rich.”
The Clinton Arts Center and the Oak Openings building are already sparking interest from additional prospects seeking to build or expand their business in downtown Clinton. Knoll and Munson have both met with potential buyers and shared their experience to help pave the way for more development in the downtown area. “This is an experiment in rural economic development,” says Munson. “We built something unexpected and now we get to witness the impact it can have on the community.”
On a Mission to Promote Community
Just as important as economic development is the non-profit mission of the Clinton Arts Center to promote community building in the village of Clinton and surrounding areas.
Sitting in the airy, open space of Twelve restaurant, it is easy to feel the sense of community that Knoll speaks of so enthusiastically. The building is a manifestation of her vision to create a gathering place. The name Oak Openings was inspired by Clinton’s history as a resting place for American Indian tribes along the Great Sauk Trail. The spot was known as the “oak opening” because of a natural opening among the oak trees found in the area.
Today, Oak Openings is a reflection of the values of the community it serves. The building even showcases a small piece of the community’s history. The tables in the restaurant are made of reclaimed wood that was recovered from a group of mature trees that had to be cut down along US-12. “Many people in the community were sad to lose these beautiful trees,” says Knoll. “We are thrilled to give them a new life here in our building.”
All of the resources to renovate and develop Oak Openings came from Knoll’s family foundation, so this is essentially her family’s legacy. “We created the space,” says Knoll. “Now it is up to the community to bring it to life.”